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Giving Birth to the Community of Ss. Isidore and Maria

The community of believers was of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they had everything in common. With great power they bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great favor was accorded them all (Acts 4:32-34).

Today, May 15 is the Feast of Saint Isidore the Farmer and therefore I am formally launching this site. Saint Isidore and his wife, Saint Maria de la Cabeza, lived in Madrid, Spain during the 11th century. They are one of the rare examples of two saints who were married to one another and therefore serve as an excellent example to those of us called to live out the fullness of our baptismal promises as married persons. Isidore and Maria lived simple, faith-filled lives and are credited with numerous miracles because of their faith. Their commitment to hard work, providing for others, and devotion to the prayerful life are an inspiration to those of us struggling to do likewise.

The community of Ss. Isidore and Maria is a nascent concept we have been mulling around in our heads and hearts for some time. Guided by the life of these two excellent saints and the examples of hundreds of other lay people who have come together in community to carry out the four-fold task of kerygma (witness), diakonia (service), leitourgia (worship), didache (teaching). At present the the community of Ss. Isidore and Maria is still waiting to become a reality. Our plan is that the place will be like a monastery, in that it will be self-sufficient and maintained by the members of the community for the community. We will grow our own food, invoking always the names of the hardworking farmer S. Isidore and his devoted wife, S. Maria. We will have as our charism to do lay ministry in service of the Church, caring for the people of God. If you are interested in a life of community, a life of prayer, and ministry to the Church as a married lay person, let us begin to turn this concept into a reality.

Ss. Isidore and Maria, pray for us.