The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1896-06-27
MADRID's PATRON SAINT.
Invoked Many Time Before to Break .
Drought.


a few days ago, is the patron saint oil
that city, and the appeal to his inter-
passion for rain is no new thing there.
il was natural to add an appeal to him
to interfere for the suppression OF the
Cuban insurrection. The sight is de-
seribed as having been an impressive
enc, when 500 priests and thousands OF
members of religious orders, each car.
rying a lighted taper in the hand, ac.
companied the saints body as it was
taken through the principal streets OF
that city.
Isidore was eanonized for the 1eyout-
ness of his life. He was born in Madrid
about ITO. His parents were poor la
borers whose piety had attracted the
attention of their neighbors, and who
reared their son to be a deyout member
of the church. He was named after the
patron saint of Seville. The poor mans
son had little schooling, but he grew up
to be a model of Christian virtue, ac-
cording to those VINO have written. his
life. He was farm lahorer, and his em-
ployer was pious nobleman named
Juan de Vargas. While exacting from
Isidore full portion Of labor IN re-
turn for his wages, De Vargas gave him
full opportunity to continue his life Of
religious effort. Isidore, on the other
hand, looked upon his labor as a punish
ment for his sins, visited upon him
from Heaven. In order not to lose time,
If do
began each morning. During the hours
he was at labor he found time to pray
at frequent intervals. Most of his time
was spent at the plow The first mir
acle which is recorded concerning him
happened one day while he was thus en-
gagged.
\ jealous fellow servant told de Var
gas that Isdore was neglecting his du-
ties, and sleeping when he should be
al work. De Vargas secreted himself
in a thieket which overlooked the fields
where Isdore and many other servants
were at work. AS de Vargas watched
them he saw that the burrows cut by
Isidore's pillow was deeper and straight
er than those cut by and other plowman.
Then he saw Isidore bow his head in
prayer. At THAT an angel appeared from
the sky and took the pillow handles and
drove the horses to the end of the fur
row. This convinced de Vargas that
Esidore was faithfuA and he afterward
admitted him to his full confidence.
The story of the angel who helped Isl
dore pillow spread through the country,
and great was the fame of it.
1sidore married, it is recorded, vir-
tuous woman, Mary Toribir, and one
child was born to them, 1t died in in
fancy, and after its death "they served
God in perfect CONTINGENCY Isidore's
wife died in ITS. Her immemorial ven
GRAFTON was approved by Pope limo
cent XII. in 1891 Her head is preserved
in the Chapel de la Cabeza.
Isidore himself had died on May Is,
ITO. His body was first buried in the
churchyard of ST. Andrews church in
Madrid. In 1910 it was eXhumed and put
in the bishops chapel, where it now is.
According to Butler, it remained ''entire
miracles down to the present day"
According to the same author one OF
the best authenticated of these mir
acles was the healing of King Philip
H., whofell sick at Casambios del
Monte, while returning from Madrid,
The kings sickness was SO serious that
his physicians dcspaired of saving his
life. As last resort, a solemn process
sion" of ecclesiastical, civil and military
dignitaries took the shrine of Isidore
from Madrid and bore it to where the
king lay. As the shrine was lifted from
lis resting place the kings fever left
him, and as the shrine was brought
nearer to him, he became better. When
it was placed beside his bed, Philip was
cured. The next year Isidore's body
was placed in a new shrine of cunning
design, which cost 1000 ducats. The
curing of the king added much to his
reputation.
Isidore was canonized on March IT,
1922, ON the same day as Ignatius 10y
ola, Philip Neri, Francis Xavier and
Theresa. The event was made one of
great rejoicing in Madrid. A poetical
tournament was held in the saints
honor and it is still celebrated in the
literary annals of Spain. Lope de Vega
wrote two sacred dramas, or mystery
plays, about the saint for the day OF
the canonization.
These were performed in the public
square, in which large stage was
erected. Boxes were built around it for
King Philip ". and his court. In the
first play Isidore's mother appeared,
and delivered the prayers that preceded
childbirth. The play closed with a fes-
tival following the birth of the child
The second drama opened with the mar
riage of isidore. y touching scene
showed them parting and resolving to
devote their lives to the service OF
God. The climax of this play showed
four angels lowering above Isidore and
his wife. This was considered a won
derful mechanical feat. In the drama
the story of the jealous servant was de
picted. As it was arranged in the play,
dc Vegas saw Isidorc in the field kissing
the feet of Christ while the voices of
angels were heard
Many miracles have, according to ira
dition, been wrought by st. Isidore, and
ut his shrine. He is always invoked to
break a prolonged drought, such as is
now affecting Spain, and he Is especially
the patron saint of the farmers.-N. Y.
Sun.
Where the Worms All Come From.