Happy Monday! We're back for another full week of saintly action and we kick things off with with the long-anticipated agricultural anarchy as Isidore the Farmer faces off against Phocas the Gardener. [insert comment about reaping what you sow]
In case you forgot about Friday's matchup, Michael the Archangel defeated Anna the Prophet 53% to 47% to advance to the Saintly Sixteen where he'll face Esther.
Finally, in the shout-out department, we're pleased to share an article titled St. Albans Participates in Lent Madness that appeared in the Eureka-Times Standard. Congrats to the Rev. Nancy Streufert and the folks at St. Alban's Church in Acarta, California! Lent Madness is HUGE in the Redwood forest.
Isidore the Farmer
Isidore was a prodigious farmer who credited the wealth of his harvests to angels who worked by his side. Born in Madrid, Spain, in about 1070, Isidore was a poor laborer for Juan de Vargas, a wealthy landowner. While Isidore spent his life working the land for others, he was always generous, sharing all he had with the poor.
Saintly lore tells us that Isidore is credited with more than 400 miracles. In addition to bringing an abundance of agricultural bounty for the de Vargas family, Isidore also is said to have brought de Vargas’s daughter back to life.
Another story tells of a beggar who arrived at Isidore’s home seeking food. Isidore’s wife, Maria, told the beggar that there was no more stew in the pot. As the beggar turned away, Isidore called out to his wife to check again. On further inspection, the pot of stew miraculously refilled. Legend also recalls that after Isidore and Maria’s only son fell into a well, Isidore prayed that the waters would rise and his son would be saved. The waters responded to his prayers, and Isidore’s son was rescued from drowning.
According to another legend, fellow farmhands complained that Isidore was always late for work because he went to worship first. The master investigated and found an angel plowing the field while Isidore was praying.
The story of Isidore the Farmer teaches us about the holiness of hard work and the value of labor. Through Isidore’s witness, we see that real abundance is not found through monetary wealth; dignity and holiness can be discovered in an ordinary life dedicated to God. Through our labors, we can also find a relationship with God as the toil of our hands takes care of our fellow humans.
According to legend, a flood nearly one hundred years after Isidore’s death uncovered his body, which was found to be in a state of incorruptibility, meaning it had not undergone normal decomposition. The church has viewed incorruptibility of the body as a sign of sainthood. Isidore the Farmer, the patron saint of farmers and laborers, is celebrated on May 15.
Collect for Isidore the Farmer
God of harrow and harvest: Look with favor upon us as we work wholeheartedly in our ministries that we, like our brother Isidore, might plow alongside unseen angels, find our dinner tables laden with enough to share, and joyfully work toward making your kingdom come on earth; we pray this in the name of the Great Sower of Seeds, Jesus Christ, your son. Amen.
Phocas the Gardener
While our spiritual imagination may draw us to Eden or Gethsemane when we think of gardens, it is quite possible that the small garden of Phocas best illustrates the call to self-sacrificing love given to disciples of Jesus.
Phocas’s garden was part of his first-century, modest, hermetic life outside the gates of Sinope, a town on the southern coast of the Black Sea. The garden was Phocas’s livelihood and his ministry. He lived by selling produce, while also using the garden’s abundance to feed the needy and hungry. At the heart of Phocas’s generosity was his Christian faith, which he sought to share with others just as fully as he shared food from his garden and resting places in his home.
During the Diocletian Persecution, Phocas’s acts of generosity drew scrutiny from the authorities. Soldiers were sent with orders to kill him. Arriving at Sinope, they found the city gates closed. Seeking lodging, they ultimately came to the hermit’s home, where they asked for his assistance in tracking down their target. Without revealing his name, Phocas did for the soldiers what he did for all guests: he received them, fed them from his garden, and gave them shelter in which to sleep in his home. He promised to lead them to the man they sought in the morning.
As they slept, Phocas dug a grave for his burial in the midst of the garden and made arrangements for the distribution of his goods to the poor. In the morning, Phocas revealed his identity and charged the soldiers to fulfill their duty. The soldiers, shocked by the act of hospitality shown by the one they were charged with killing, begged Phocas to recant his beliefs, allowing them to report a fruitless search. It was only when Phocas proclaimed that it was an honor to share in the sufferings of Jesus that the soldiers carried out their charge. Phocas was buried in the midst of his own garden, the place where he had provided unremitting hospitality to friend and enemy alike.
Collect for Phocas the Gardener
Almighty God, you emptied yourself to take on the form of a servant, and you call your disciples to do the same. Kindle in our hearts the same love you bestowed upon Phocas the Gardener, that, in giving of our abundance to serve friend and enemy alike, we may reflect to the world around us the abundant generosity you show to us in your Son Jesus Christ, Our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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166 comments on “Isidore the Farmer vs. Phocas the Gardener”
Isadore's story was way too incredible. So, even though Izzy probably has better kitsch, my vote goes to the hospitable gardener.
My father's middle name was Isidore and my wedding anniversary is May 15 so my choice was made for me this morning.
I am home from work today and looking out the window at our freshly planted garden. Here in Texas, it is early spring. My wife and daughter are the earth angels who planted our garden and so for that reason I voted for Isidore.
Isadore was a "shu-in"(however spelled) until I read that Phocas not only extended great hospitality to the soldiers who were looking to kill him but dug his own grave in the midst of his beloved garden, and then insisted that the soldiers carry out their orders!!! Sorry Isadore, but my focus shifted.
Shouldn't that be "my phocas shifted"?
I no longer chalk off miracle stories as fables, legends or lore. I like miracles and angels and mystery. These are two good saints. After pondering the messages, I've realized the pattern that's emerged through the madness, is prayer--particularly fasting prayers, the power of prayer, and my awe of miracles--even absolutely outrageous miracles. Now, this isn't a new thing to me. I've long been concerned that we have lost the art of praying and don't know how powerful praying can be. We've lost our confidence, our boldness and our expectation of results. I voted for Isidore for a hundred reasons, but mostly because I like simple prayers--go check that pot. Also there's rumors of 438 miracles.
I went with Phocas who accepted the inevitable. I also wonder about the soldiers who were forced to their deed against their will. Also, NOTE to the SEC: It's ARCATA, California.
All honor to gardeners of flowers, fruits, and vegetables, and may my late beloved elder godmother rest in peace and rise in glory with all heavenly gardeners. I voted for Phocas because of the historicity of his life story. Nevertheless, without gardens our planet would be a moonscape, so thanks be to God for all green thumbs.
About Isidore, I particularly like this quotation in his bio: "Through Isidore’s witness, we see that real abundance is not found through monetary wealth; dignity and holiness can be discovered in an ordinary life dedicated to God. Through our labors, we can also find a relationship with God as the toil of our hands takes care of our fellow humans." Philanthropy of the monetary kind is a very good thing, but the solution to problems isn't always money. Time, attention, prayer - love in action, in other words - can be like the ripples in a pond, doing good in ways and to the extent that we cannot imagine. My late godmother lived such a life, and her expertise in the garden and at the sewing machine, plus her loving and generous spirit, gave her life a loaves and fishes quality. That's the nature of grace, which Isidore and Phocas received from God and passed on to the the benefit of others.
I voted for Isadore. It is my own failing but I could not vote for anybody who would extend hospitality to those who have come to kill me. I'd find it really, really, really hard to do all this stuff for you and dig my own grave and then say: "Well, come on and get my beheading underway and bury me six feet under ! Cheerio!" Guess I'm really lacking in the true meaning of servanthood of the selfless kind....but it is LENTMADNESS...right?
Have to go with Isidore as he is witnessed in stain glass at All Saints Chapel outside Elkhart Wisconsin. The grounds around the Chapel were commemorated in his name. The Chapel sits adjacent to vast farm fields. There is an aura around the Chapel that in part could be the presence of St. Isidore?
I voted for Phocas. I love gardening and sharing my abundance.
Allow a little paraphrasing...from the dirt we came and to the dirt we return. Phocas for me, he gave his all to the garden.
Another difficult choice. There is little doubt that both men had admirable qualities when I came to sharing the love of Jesus or the Lord. However, for some reason, Isidore won me over right away. I think it's because I grew up with so many family friends who farm or farmed that Ilove farming and farms, and have so much respect for those who do such back-breaking work. I also loved, loved, loved his collect.
Phocas the gardener. His story reminded me of a family story about how, during the Great Depression, my grandfather raised a large garden and shared produce with his neighbors.
This was a very, very tough decision. I decided to read through all the comments before I made up my mind. Thank you, everyone, for your thoughts on these two worthy candidates!
In honor of my friend and fellow DOK, Becky and all those at Our Saviour Episcopal, Dallas who work to run, maintain, & manage the Our Saviour Community Garden & its Plot Against Hunger in their Lowe income outer Southern Dallas neighbourhood of Pleasant Grove, I cast my vote for Phocas, who shared his food and even his lodging with all, even those who would ultimately . . . I was going to say take his life then it occurred to me that they didn't take it, Phocas gave his life rather than deny the One who had already given His life for him.
low-ncome not Lowe income . . . bleeping auto-co-wreck . . . LentMadness Comments need an edit button even worse than Twitter does.
"like"
Or under the soil, depending on how you look at it.
http://www.lotusland.org/explore-garden/reservations?sid=931
Dear Friends: For me, the most difficult decision. Please visit my favorite garden at the above site: Ganna Walska's Lotusland. Cheers! MJ
Here's the home url: http://www.lotusland.org/
Isidore the Farmer's bio read more like "legend has it"; whereas, Phocas the Gardener's story seems rooted in factual history. My vote is for Phocas.
I go for Phocas. His story is simply. He had simple faith in a time when simple faith was needed. He preached with what he had.
A really tough choice! For the first time this year, I looked at the results before I voted, and chose the current underdog. Both deserve to win.
My initial thought was toward Phocas the gardener, because I too aspire to having a garden to be used toward helping our homeless and needy. So I read about Isadore the Farmer with an open heart seeking to change my mind...........
As it happens, I resonant deeply with Phocas. And I resonate with his standing in the truth and integrity of his relationship to God, and continuing to testify to Jesus. He is the kind of saint, I would wish to emulate. If I were placed into the same position as he, I hope that my response would be similar.
Tough match up, but I sided with Phocas. Stories of generosity, even to enemies, always make me think and consider the "what if's" about the world.
To those who work by acres, not hours, we thank you. My vote went to Isadore, due to the generations of farmers in both branches of my family.
I like Isidore because he worked over 400 miracles.
After the first few rounds of heavy hitters we are getting into the weird but wonderful stories of unfamiliar saintly people. I'm absolutely loving reading about persons previously unknown to me. Today I focus on Phocus.
You say Phocas was first century yet the Diocletion persecution was the turn if the FOURTH century. Need to be a bit more vigilant.
Riverhead NY has a St Isidore's Church. Polish farmers settled in area. Gives meaning to the name. I like that prayer came before labor, setting the tone for the day.
Accidentally voted twice. Didn’t lock out like normal. Still allowing me to vote. Should I vote for Isidore to cancel out my extra Phocas vote? Actually feel a little guilty.
Although I love to garden, the Parable of the Sower & the Seed is one of the passages that speaks most deeply to my heart. Had to go with Isadore; doubtless he encountered many situations during a long haul as a farmer.
I (foolishly!) read the bios on Friday, which meant that I had the entire weekend in which to change my mind more than 400 times. Today, I decided that a thorough reading off all of the comments from my wise fellow travelers would surely provide me with a pathway to the most deserving candidate... Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your well-defined and nuanced assistance! I now realize that I must pray a bit longer and perhaps simply flip a coin and leave it to chsnce!
AARRGH! What a dilemma! My father grew up on a farm, and I've always known lots of farmers even though I'm a child of the suburbs. I'm an organic vegetable gardener who shares a lot of produce with friends, neighbors and anyone who will consent to take a zucchini or two off my hands. I guess I'll go with Phocas.
If Phocas was martyred during the Diocletian persecution, presumably he lived during the late 3rd and early 4th centuries, NOT during the first century, as our blogger states at the outset of his write-up. Though much in the stories of the early saints is often based on popular legend, I wish our bloggers would at least take the trouble not to be careless and to try to get straight whatever facts and dates there actually are in these stories.