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000 - Root

Popeye the Sailor

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<h1 class="py-4 my-0 text-center has-black-color">Novena to St. Isidore &ndash; Day 5: Walking in the Presence of God</h1>
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<p>Hymn</p>
<p>As we, if we should ride upon<br>The golden wings (O God) of dawn,<br>And seek the ends of earth and sky,<br>Could not escape Your loving eye:</p>
<p>We beg that we by faith may see<br>Your sweet and fierce ubiquity,<br>And may deserve at last by grace<br>To see You always face to face.</p>
<p>Through Jesus Christ let this be done,<br>Who lives and reigns, our Lord, Your son,<br>Whom with the Spirit we adore,<br>One God with You forevermore.</p>
<p><em>Antiphon</em></p>
<p>P. O taste, and see that the Lord is sweet: / blessed is the man who hopes in him.</p>
<p>(Psalm 1)</p>
<p><strong>All:</strong>&nbsp;Happy the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked,</p>
<p>Nor walks in the way of sinners, / nor sits in the company of the insolent,</p>
<p>But delights in the law of the Lord / and meditates on his law day and night.</p>
<p>He is like a tree planted near running water, that yields fruit in due season, / and whose leaves never fade.</p>
<p>Whatever he does prospers. Not so the wicked, not so; / they are like chaff which the wind drives away.</p>
<p>Therefore in judgment the wicked shall not stand, / nor shall sinners, in the assembly of the just.</p>
<p>For the Lord watches over the way of the just, / but the way of the wicked vanishes.</p>
<p>Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, / and to the Holy Spirit,</p>
<p>As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be / world without end. Amen.</p>
<p><em>Antiphon</em></p>
<p><strong>All:</strong>&nbsp;O taste, and see that the Lord is sweet blessed is the man who hopes in him.</p>
<p>P. (Chapter&ndash;I Timothy 4:15-16) Meditate on these things, give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be manifest to all. Take heed to yourself and to your teaching, be earnest in them. For in so doing you will save both yourself and those who hear you.</p>
<p><strong>R.</strong>&nbsp;Thanks be to God.<br>V. The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul.<br><strong>R.</strong>&nbsp;The decree of the Lord is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple.<br>V. The Lord be with you.<br><strong>R.</strong>&nbsp;And with your spirit.</p>
<p>Let us pray.</p>
<p>P. Breathe into our hearts, we beg You, O Lord, a desire for heavenly glory, and grant that we may come, bearing in Our hands the sheaves of justice, to where the blessed Isidore is resplendent with You in glory, through Christ our Lord.</p>
<p><strong>R.</strong>&nbsp;Amen.<br>V. St. Isidore.<br><strong>R.</strong>&nbsp;Pray for us.</p>
<p><em>Prayer in Honor of Saint Isidore</em></p>
<p><strong>All:</strong>&nbsp;O God, who taught Adam the simple art of tilling the soil, / and who through Jesus Christ, the true vine, / revealed Yourself the husbandman of our souls, / deign, we pray, through the merits of blessed Isidore, / to instill into our hearts a horror of sin and a love of prayer, / so that, working the soil in the sweat of our brow, / we may enjoy eternal happiness in heaven, through the same Christ our Lord.</p>
<p><strong>R.</strong>&nbsp;Amen.<br>V. The Lord be with you.<br><strong>R.</strong>&nbsp;And with your spirit.<br>V. Let us bless the Lord.<br><strong>R.</strong>&nbsp;Thanks be to God.<br>V. May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. R. Amen.</p>
<h2>REFLECTION</h2>
<p>As we prepare to celebrate the feast of Sts. Isidore and his wife Maria, the patrons of farmers and rural life, let us reflect on the powerful witness of their lives.</p>
<p>This holy couple lived in Spain near Madrid in the 11th century, and worked as agricultural laborers, their lives marked by a deep Catholic faith, an intense piety, a love for the poor and for nature, as well as a strong work ethic.</p>
<p>Miraculous stories abound of angels finishing his plowing while Isidore prayed in solitude, and of supernatural multiplications of food, which this generous couple shared with the poor.</p>
<p>Their fusion of faith and farming reminds us that farmers embrace a profound vocation of cultivating the world God made, in order to feed all of us.</p>
<p>Farming is both spiritual and vocational&mdash;but it is not easy.</p>
<p>In recent years, many family farms have gone bankrupt, the cost of fuel, seed, and fertilizer has sky-rocketed, and yet the remuneration farmers receive for their hard work and sacrifice is often flat-lined.</p>
<p>The stress that many farmers feel in the current moment contributes to increases in depression, suicide, marital challenges, and poverty.</p>
<p>A whole way of family life on the land is in danger of disappearing.</p>
<p>Only by sharing resources, working together on bigger projects, and simply having accurate knowledge of the strengths and challenges of our people, can the local Church will be better equipped to respond to needs and offer a more effective pastoral presence to those in rural areas.</p>
<p>As we prepare for the feast of Sts. Isidore and Maria, let us implore the heavenly intercession to them as we pray for and support our farmers, asking for good weather and abundant harvests, as well as a deep and abiding faith.</p>
<p><em>Bishop Donald Hying</em><br><em>Diocese of Madison</em></p>
<p><em>Recite the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be (etc.), three times, followed by a prayer of your choice for special needs.</em></p>
<p><a href="https://catholicrurallife.org/resources/spiritual/novena-to-st-isidore/">Click here</a> to see other days of the novena.&nbsp;</p>
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Day 5: Walking in the Presence of God

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<h1 class="py-4 my-0 text-center has-black-color">Novena to St. Isidore &ndash; Day 3: Love of Neighbor</h1>
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<p>Hymn</p>
<p>O God, who made man from the slime<br>According to Your form sublime,<br>And made Christ share our lowliness<br>To let us share His holiness:</p>
<p>Be in each brother&rsquo;s hand a light<br>To show the path through this dark night,<br>Be in us each the burning fire<br>That kindles love and kills desire.</p>
<p>Through Jesus Christ let this be done,<br>Who lives and reigns, our Lord, Your son,<br>Whom with the Spirit we adore<br>One God with You forevermore.</p>
<p><em>Antiphon</em></p>
<p>P. Everyone shall help his neighbor and shall say to his brother: / Be of good courage.</p>
<p>(Psalm 132)</p>
<p><strong>All:</strong>&nbsp;Behold, how good it is, and how pleasant, where brethren dwell as one!</p>
<p>It is as when the precious ointment upon the head runs down over the beard, the beard of Aaron, / till it runs down upon the collar of his robe.</p>
<p>It is a dew like that of Hermon, / which comes down upon the mountains of Zion;</p>
<p>For there the Lord has pronounced his blessing, / life forever.</p>
<p>Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, / and to the Holy Spirit.</p>
<p>As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be / world without end. Amen.</p>
<p><em>Antiphon</em></p>
<p><strong>All:</strong>&nbsp;Everyone shall help his neighbor and shall say to his brother: / Be of good courage.</p>
<p>P. (Chapter&ndash;Romans 12:9-12) Let love be without pretense. Hate what is evil, hold to what is good. Love one another with fraternal charity, anticipating one another with honor. Be not slothful in zeal; be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, rejoicing in hope, Be patient in tribulation, persevering in prayer.</p>
<p><strong>R.</strong>&nbsp;Thanks be to God.<br>V. You are citizens with the saints.<br><strong>R.</strong>&nbsp;And members of God&rsquo;s household.<br>V. The Lord be with you.<br><strong>R.</strong>&nbsp;And with your spirit.</p>
<p>Let us pray.</p>
<p>P. O God, You make all things work together unto good for those who love You. Give to our hearts an abiding love for You, so that the desires we conceive by Your inspiration may ever remain unchanged in spite of every temptation, through Christ Our Lord.</p>
<p><strong>R.</strong>&nbsp;Amen.<br>V. St. Isidore.<br><strong>R.</strong>&nbsp;Pray for us.</p>
<p><em>Prayer in Honor of Saint Isidore</em></p>
<p><strong>All:</strong>&nbsp;O God, who taught Adam the simple art of tilling the soil, / and who through Jesus Christ, the true vine, / revealed yourself the husbandman of our souls, / deign, we pray, through the merits of blessed Isidore, / to instill into our hearts a horror of sin and a love of prayer, / so that, working the soil in the sweat of our brow, / we may enjoy eternal happiness in heaven, through the same Christ our Lord.</p>
<p><strong>R.</strong>&nbsp;Amen.<br>V. The Lord be with you.<br><strong>R.</strong>&nbsp;And with your spirit.<br>V. Let us bless the Lord.<br><strong>R.</strong>&nbsp;Thanks be to God.<br>V. May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. R. Amen.</p>
<h3><em>REFLECTION</em></h3>
<p>&ldquo;When I first entered the seminary to study theology, I remember one of the formators speaking to us men about the importance of having a &ldquo;kneeling theology.&rdquo;&nbsp; Essentially, the priest was impressing upon us the value of grounding our study of theology in the discipline of prayer. &nbsp; At the heart of this prayer is the cultivation of a relationship with God&mdash;Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.&nbsp;</p>
<p>In reviewing some of the artistic depictions of Saint Isidore the Farmer, I could not help but notice that there is one of him kneeling on the ground with his hands folded and his hat off in the midst of the field.&nbsp; As I gazed deeper into the image it suggested to me that in the work of farming there is a value in practicing a &ldquo;kneeling agriculture&rdquo; or a &ldquo;kneeling work ethic&rdquo; that continuously fosters a relationship with the Triune God.&nbsp;</p>
<p>This act of kneeling refers not just to the act of bending one&rsquo;s knee in an expression of reverence, but it also points to a genuine humility that beholds God as the creator, source, and sustainer of life.&nbsp; I encourage you to take a knee and reflect upon the story of creation in the first chapter of Genesis with particular attention to the repeated phrase, &ldquo;God saw that it was good.&rdquo; While the days may be long and the work ever so grueling for the farmer, a &ldquo;kneeling agriculture&rdquo; helps us to see that no matter what it is all good.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Bishop David Bonnar<br>Diocese of Youngstown</p>
<p><em>Recite the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be (etc.), three times, followed by a prayer of your choice for special needs.</em></p>
<p><a href="https://catholicrurallife.org/resources/spiritual/novena-to-st-isidore/">Click here</a> to see other days of the novena.&nbsp;</p>
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Day 3: Love of Neighbor

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<h1 class="py-4 my-0 text-center has-black-color">Novena to St. Isidore &ndash; Day 2: Family Life in Christ</h1>
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<p class="kt-adv-heading537_0f384a-83 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading" data-kb-block="kb-adv-heading537_0f384a-83"><strong>Hymn</strong><br>Lord, who to share creative life<br>Created mankind man and wife,<br>To be with You creators of<br>The objects of Your endless love;<br>As Jesus loves the Church His bride,<br>Let our love be intensified,<br>Let love of one another be<br>Our pledge of love eternally.<br>Through Jesus Christ let this be done,<br>Who lives and reigns, our Lord, Your Son,<br>Whom with the Spirit we adore,<br>One God with You forevermore.</p>
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<p class="kt-adv-heading537_2d6f96-71 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading" data-kb-block="kb-adv-heading537_2d6f96-71"><em>Antiphon</em><br><br>P. Happy they who dwell in your house! / Continually they praise you.<br><br>(Psalm 127)<br><br><strong>All:</strong>&nbsp;Happy are you who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways!<br><br>For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork; / happy shall you be, and favored.<br><br>Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine / in the recesses of your home.<br><br>Your children like olive plants / around your table.<br><br>Behold, thus is the man blessed / who fears the Lord.<br><br>The Lord bless you from Zion; / may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life;<br><br>May you see your children&rsquo;s children. / Peace be upon Israel!<br><br>Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, / and to the Holy Spirit,<br><br>As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be / world without end. Amen.</p>
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<p class="kt-adv-heading537_846121-93 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading" data-kb-block="kb-adv-heading537_846121-93"><em>Antiphon</em><br><br><strong>All:</strong>&nbsp;Happy they who dwell in your house! / Continually they praise you.<br><br>P. (Chapter&ndash;Psalm 26:4-5) One thing I ask of the Lord: this I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, that I may gaze on the loveliness of the Lord and contemplate his temple. For he will hide me in his abode in the day of trouble; he will conceal me in the shelter of his tent; he will set me high upon a rock.<br><br><strong>R.</strong>&nbsp;Thanks be to God.<br>V. I will make all your children to be taught of the Lord.<br><strong>R.</strong>&nbsp;And an abundance of peace to your children.<br>V. The Lord be with you.<br><strong>R.</strong>&nbsp;And with your spirit.<br><br>Let us pray.<br><br>V. We offer You the sacrifice of praise, O Lord, and humbly pray that through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin, Mother of God, and of Saint Joseph, You may establish our families in peace and grace, through the same Christ our Lord.<br><br><strong>R.</strong>&nbsp;Amen.<br>V. St. Isidore.<br><strong>R.</strong>&nbsp;Pray for us.</p>
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<p><em>Prayer in Honor of Saint Isidore</em></p>
<p><strong>All:</strong>&nbsp;O God, who taught Adam the simple art of tilling the soil, / and who through Jesus Christ, the true vine, / revealed Yourself the husbandman of our souls, / deign, we pray, through the merits of blessed Isidore, / to instill into our hearts a horror of sin and a love of prayer, / so that, working the soil in the sweat of our brow, / we may enjoy eternal happiness in heaven, through the same Christ our Lord.</p>
<p><strong>R.</strong>&nbsp;Amen.<br>V. The Lord be with you.<br><strong>R.</strong>&nbsp;And with your spirit.<br>V. Let us bless the Lord<br><strong>R.</strong>&nbsp;Thanks be to God.<br>V. May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.<br><strong>R.</strong>&nbsp;Amen.</p>
<p class="kt-adv-heading537_cce6a7-f0 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading" data-kb-block="kb-adv-heading537_cce6a7-f0"><strong>REFLECTION</strong></p>
<p>Many would have considered St. Isidore to be a simple man. His simplicity is precisely what is needed in a world that is too often complicated. The simplicity of St. Isidore was based on a profound spiritual truth that we can easily overlook. At the heart of our daily activity should be the first and greatest commandment. Love God with your whole being</p>
<p>St. Isidore kept the first thing first in his life and so the cultivation of his soul led to sainthood. In the original relationship of God and Man, Adam was tasked with cultivating the garden. He failed and toil began to mark human labor. St. Isidore stands as an example of growing into a greater harmony through work. Despite the fall and the sweat of the brow, it is possible to live in a closer union with God because of the saving work of Jesus. It is possible to cultivate the soil of the earth and the soul so that both grow to bear fruit in God&rsquo;s providence.</p>
<p>Because St. Isidore was careful to give God the first fruits of his day he could live an ordered life. He discovered the power of simplicity because with God first everything else can operate in its proper place. The complexities of our lives will look different if we keep first things first.</p>
<p>Let these days of prayer cultivate your own sense God present so that you may live in greater harmony with the Almighty.</p>
<p>by&nbsp;<em>Bishop Erik Pohlmeier<br>Diocese of St. Augustine</em></p>
<p><em>Recite the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be (etc.), three times, followed by the prayer of your choice for special needs.</em></p>
<p><a href="https://catholicrurallife.org/resources/spiritual/novena-to-st-isidore/">Click here</a> to see other days of the novena.&nbsp;</p>
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Day 2: Family Life in Christ

<h1>Novena to St. Isidore &ndash; Day 7: Rural Works of Mercy</h1>
<p>Hymn</p>
<p>O God, as Jesus by His birth<br>Became our fellow man on earth,<br>And raised man, by His brotherhood,<br>To His divine similitude:</p>
<p>We beg that we in men may see<br>The form of Your divinity,<br>What good for fellow men we do<br>Accept as being done for You.</p>
<p>Through Jesus Christ let this be done<br>Who lives and reigns, our Lord,<br>Your Son, Whom with the Spirit we adore,<br>One God with You forevermore.</p>
<p>Antiphon</p>
<p>P. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.</p>
<p>(Psalm 111)</p>
<p>All: Happy is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commands.</p>
<p>His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth; / the upright generation shall be blessed.</p>
<p>Wealth and riches shall be in his house; / his generosity shall endure forever.</p>
<p>He draws through the darkness, a light for the upright; / he is gracious and merciful and just.</p>
<p>Well for the man who is gracious and lends, / who conducts his affairs with justice;</p>
<p>He shall never be moved; / the just man shall be in everlasting remembrance.</p>
<p>An evil report he shall not fear; / his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.</p>
<p>His heart is steadfast; / he shall not fear till he looks down upon his foes.</p>
<p>Lavishly he gives to the poor; his generosity shall endure forever; / his horn shall be exalted in glory.</p>
<p>The wicked man shall see it and be vested; he shall gnash his teeth and pine away; / the desire of the wicked shall perish.</p>
<p>Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, / and to the Holy Spirit,</p>
<p>As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be / world without end. Amen.</p>
<p>Antiphon</p>
<p>All: Blessed are the poor in spirit, / for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.</p>
<p>P. (Chapter&ndash;Matthew 6:19-20) Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where rust and moth consume, where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither rust nor moth consumes, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart also will be.</p>
<p>R. Thanks be to God.<br>V. He who trusts in his riches shall fall.<br>R. But the just shall spring up as a green leaf.<br>V. The Lord be with you.<br>R. And with your spirit.</p>
<p>Let us pray.</p>
<p>P. May the grace of the Holy Spirit, we beg You, O Lord, enlighten our hearts, and refresh them abundantly with the sweetness of perfect charity, through Christ our Lord.</p>
<p>R. Amen.<br>V. St. Isidore.<br>R. Pray for us.</p>
<p>Prayer in Honor of Saint Isidore</p>
<p>All: O God, who taught Adam the simple art of tilling the soil, / and who through Jesus Christ, the true vine, / revealed Yourself the husbandman of our souls, / deign, we pray, through the merits of blessed Isidore, / to instill into our hearts a horror of sin and a love of prayer, / so that working the soil in the sweat of our brow, / we may enjoy eternal happiness in heaven, through the same Christ our Lord.</p>
<p>R. Amen.<br>V. The Lord be with you.<br>R. And with your spirit.<br>V. Let us bless the Lord.<br>R. Thanks be to God.<br>V. May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.<br>R. Amen.</p>
<p>REFLECTION<br>Each spring we experience a rebirth in nature, when after a long winter the natural world comes alive again with all its beauty and new life. It is important for us to appreciate the gift of God&rsquo;s creation and give it due respect. It is easy for us who live in a highly technocratic and utilitarian culture to take the natural world for granted and to lose sight of its splendor and glory. It is easy for us to suffer from a kind of nature deficit disorder.</p>
<p>After I graduated from college, I had the opportunity to try my hand at farming in northcentral Kansas with a couple of friends of mine. It was during those years that I came to appreciate the gift of God&rsquo;s created world, our common home. I also discovered the importance of agriculture and good stewardship of the land. It was during these years of hard work, silence, community and reflective prayer that I discerned my calling to the priesthood.</p>
<p>As we invoke the intercession of St. Isidore the farmer, let us rekindle our appreciation and reverence for the land, and let us pray that we will always see the connections in things and the fingerprints of God in the natural world around us. May we always respect the gift of creation and may it ground our being in the reality of the truth, goodness and beauty of God.</p>
<p>Bishop James Conley<br>Diocese of Lincoln</p>
<p>Recite the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be (etc.), three times, followed by a prayer of your choice for special needs.</p>
<p>Click here to see other days of the novena.&nbsp;</p>

Day 7: Rural Works of Mercy

<h1>Novena to St. Isidore &ndash; Day 6: Stewardship of the Soil</h1>
<p>Hymn</p>
<p>O Lord, as You by Your command<br>For all men&rsquo;s use have made the land,<br>Yet have allowed man&rsquo;s wise decree<br>Rule it be cared for privately;</p>
<p>Let us know that what we control<br>Is made for mankind as a whole,<br>And we must an accounting give<br>Of what God lends us while we live.</p>
<p>Through Jesus Christ let this be done,<br>Who lives and reigns, our Lord,<br>Your Son, Whom with the Spirit we adore,<br>One God with You forevermore.</p>
<p>Antiphon</p>
<p>P. And other seeds fell upon good ground, and yielded fruit, / some a hundredfold, some sixtyfold, and some thirtyfold.</p>
<p>(Psalm 64:10-14)</p>
<p>All: You have visited the land and watered it; greatly have you enriched it.</p>
<p>God&rsquo;s watercourses are filled; / you have prepared the grain.</p>
<p>Thus have you prepared the land, / drenching its furrows, / breaking up its clods.</p>
<p>Softening it with showers, / blessing its yield.</p>
<p>You have crowned the year with your bounty, / and your paths overflow with a rich harvest;</p>
<p>The untilled meadows overflow with it, / and rejoicing clothes the hills.</p>
<p>The fields are garmented with flocks / and the valleys blanketed with grain. / They shout and sing for joy.</p>
<p>Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, / and to the Holy Spirit,</p>
<p>As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be / world without end. Amen.</p>
<p>Antiphon</p>
<p>All: And other seeds fell upon good ground, and yielded fruit, / some a hundred fold, some sixtyfold, and some thirtyfold.</p>
<p>P. (Chapter&ndash;James 5:7-10) Be patient therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruits of the earth, being patient until it receives the early and late rain. Do you also be patient; strengthen your hearts; for the coming of the Lord is at hand.</p>
<p>R. Thanks be to God.<br>V. Prepare your work outdoors, and diligently till the ground.<br>R. That afterwards you may build your house.</p>
<p>Let us pray.</p>
<p>P. Pour down Your blessing, we beg of You, O Lord, upon Your people, and upon all the fruits of the earth, so that when collected they may be mercifully distributed to the honor and glory of Your holy name, through Christ our Lord.</p>
<p>R. Amen.<br>V. St. Isidore.<br>R. Pray for us.</p>
<p>Prayer in Honor of Saint Isidore</p>
<p>All: O God, who taught Adam the simple art of tilling the soil, / and who through Jesus Christ, the true vine, / revealed Yourself the husbandman of our souls, / deign, we pray, through the merits of blessed Isidore, / to instill into our hearts a horror of sin and a love of prayer, / so that working the soil in the sweat of our brow, / we may enjoy eternal happiness in heaven, through the same Christ our Lord.</p>
<p>R. Amen.<br>V The Lord be with you.<br>R. And with your spirit.<br>V. Let us bless the Lord.<br>R. Thanks be to God.<br>V. May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. R. Amen.</p>
<p>REFLECTION<br>In writing this short reflection preparing for the feast of St. Isidore the Farmer, my mind goes to the shepherds of our rural communities. We have just celebrated Good Shepherd Sunday on May 11, and we thank God for the shepherds he has sent to our parishes. Our priests often have multiple parishes to which they tend, and they do so day in and day out without complaint (most of the time). Like children who take for granted the sacrifices and service of their parents, we sometimes fail to thank intercede for our spiritual fathers.</p>
<p>Yet this is exactly how the Body of Christ works, each of us has a different role in the building up of the Kingdom, but we desperately need each other. Please support your pastors who strive to live the joy of the Gospel in so many various settings, and most especially those who are in remote locations with multiple communities for which to care. Your priests need you to be their community and family &ndash; love and nurture them as they love and feed you with the Body of Christ.</p>
<p>To My brother priests, as shepherds of the flock(s) entrusted to your care, please do not neglect to listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd in daily prayer, and hear Him say to you, I am with you always. Thank you for your service and ministry to our families, we love you and we support you!</p>
<p>Bishop David Toups<br>Diocese of Beaumont</p>
<p>Recite the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be (etc.), three times, followed by a prayer of your choice for special needs.</p>
<p>Click here to see other days of the novena.&nbsp;</p>

Day 6: Stewardship of the Soil

<h1>Novena to St. Isidore &ndash; Day 9: Sacrifice of Praise</h1>
<p>Hymn</p>
<p>Lord, who before Your praise was heard<br>Were praised in silence by the Word,<br>And whom, from all eternity<br>Your Son has praised sufficiently:</p>
<p>Please deign to be our hallowing,<br>And we in Christ Your Son will sing,<br>Then Your poor creatures&rsquo; prayers will rise<br>Sufficient praise before Your eyes.</p>
<p>Through Jesus Christ let this be done,<br>Who lives and reigns, our Lord, Your Son,<br>Whom with the Spirit we adore,<br>One God with You forevermore.</p>
<p>Antiphon</p>
<p>P. Whatever you do in word or in work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, / giving thanks to God the Father through him.</p>
<p>(Psalm 22)</p>
<p>All: The Lord is my shepherd: I shall not want. In verdant pastures he gives me repose.</p>
<p>Beside restful waters he leads me; / he refreshes my soul.</p>
<p>He guides me in right paths; / for his name&rsquo;s sake.</p>
<p>Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; / for you are at my side</p>
<p>With your rod and your staff / that give me courage.</p>
<p>You spread the table before me / in the sight of my foes; You anoint my head with oil, / my cup overflows.</p>
<p>Only goodness and kindness follow me / all the days of my life;</p>
<p>And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord / for years to come.</p>
<p>Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, / and to the Holy Spirit,</p>
<p>As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be / world without end. Amen.</p>
<p>Antiphon</p>
<p>All: Whatever you do in word or in work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, / giving thanks to God the Father through him.</p>
<p>P. (Chapter&ndash;Hebrews 10:12-14) Jesus, having offered one sacrifice for sins, has taken his seat forever at the right hand of God, waiting thenceforth until his enemies be made the footstool under his feet. For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are sanctified.</p>
<p>R. Thanks be to God.<br>V. Offer to God the sacrifice of praise.<br>R. And pay your vows to the Most High.<br>V. The Lord be with you.<br>R. And with your spirit.</p>
<p>Let us pray</p>
<p>P. Protect us, O Lord; who offer holocausts to You, and sear our hearts with the flame of Your divine charity, so that they may be ever more fervently prepared for sacrifice, through Christ our Lord.</p>
<p>R. Amen.<br>V. St. Isidore.<br>R. Pray for us.</p>
<p>Prayer in Honor of Saint Isidore</p>
<p>All: O God, who taught Adam the simple art of tilling the soil, / and who through Jesus Christ, the true vine, / revealed Yourself the husbandman of our souls, / deign, we pray, through the merits of blessed Isidore, / to instill into our hearts a horror of sin and a love of prayer, / so that working the soil in the sweat of our brow, / we may enjoy eternal happiness in heaven, through the same Christ our Lord.</p>
<p>R. Amen.<br>V. The Lord be with you.<br>R. And with your spirit.<br>V. Let us bless the Lord.<br>R. Thanks be to God.<br>V. May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.<br>R. Amen.</p>
<p>REFLECTION<br>Every profession has its own peculiar way of helping people to manifest love for their neighbor, and for the farmer, the honorable way is to provide basic food for the rest of the world. From the example of St. Isidore, we learn that our daily life is not to be a selfish quest for profit, but an opportunity to serve.</p>
<p>St. Isidore demonstrated love of people and animals by his many acts of kindness and mercy. He never ruled a diocese, nor was he martyred for his faith, but he was a disciple who served God in the fields as a simple plowman. His conduct was honest, and his faith pure and steadfast. He often gave others more than he had for himself, with a good and generous heart.</p>
<p>The capacity to live fruitfully in any Christian community, be it family, parish, or otherwise, is the consequence of staying connected to the vine, Jesus himself. Vines and branches have an intimate relationship &ndash; there is no life for the branch apart from the vine. It must remain on the vine to be nourished and sustain life. In the same way, grace is God&rsquo;s own divine life flowing through Christ and into us. Jesus Christ bonds us together in love.</p>
<p>St. Isidore and Maria had a true friendship in Jesus. Remember that true friends bring out the best in us and make us a better person. In other words, they make us greater. This is what Jesus did for St. Isidore &ndash; and this is what Isidore did for others &ndash; because &ldquo;No one has greater love that this, than to lay down one&rsquo;s life for one&rsquo;s friends.&rdquo; It is how St. Isidore gave praise to God!</p>
<p>Bishop Robert Gruss<br>Diocese of Saginaw<br>Chair of Catholic Rural Life</p>
<p>Recite the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be (etc.) three times, followed by a prayer of you choice for special needs.</p>
<p>Click here to see other days of the novena.&nbsp;</p>

Day 9: Sacrifice of Praise

<p><img width="150" height="150" src="https://sqpn.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/MYS393-post-150x150.png" class="attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" />It's our annual Thanksgiving Weird Questions episode, and this time Cy Kellett is asking Jimmy Akin questions about whether the Holy Spirit has chromosomes, what sacraments angels can perform (if any), whether Zoroaster was a savior before Jesus, and what to make of the sword of St. Michael.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://sqpn.com/2025/11/the-sword-of-st-michael-and-more-weird-questions/">The Sword of St. Michael (and More Weird Questions)</a> appeared first on <a href="https://sqpn.com">StarQuest Media</a>.</p>

The Sword of St. Michael (and More Weird Questions)

<h1>Novena to St. Isidore &ndash; Day 8: Trust in Prayer</h1>
<p>Hymn</p>
<p>O God, as You by Your pure gift<br>By grace our nature do uplift,<br>And make it possible to be<br>What You, God, are essentially.</p>
<p>We pray You then to hear our prayer,<br>For it is Christ&rsquo;s, whose life we share;<br>And since we share Christ&rsquo;s nature, we<br>Can pray, like Christ, almightily.</p>
<p>Through Jesus Christ let this be done,<br>Who lives and reigns, our Lord, Your Son,<br>Whom with the Spirit we adore,<br>One God with You forevermore.</p>
<p>Antiphon</p>
<p>P. Therefore I say to you, all things whatever you ask for in prayer, / believe that you shall receive, and they shall come to you.</p>
<p>(Psalm 85:1-10)</p>
<p>All: Incline your ear, O Lord; answer me for I am afflicted and poor.</p>
<p>Keep my life, for I am devoted to you; / save your servant who trusts in you.</p>
<p>You are my God; have pity on me, O Lord, / for to you I call all the day.</p>
<p>Gladden the soul of your servant, / for to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul;</p>
<p>For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, / abounding in kindness to all who call upon You,</p>
<p>Hearken, O Lord, to my prayer / and attend to the sound of my pleading.</p>
<p>In the day of my distress I call upon you, / for you will answer me.</p>
<p>There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, / and there are no works like yours.</p>
<p>All the nations you have made shall come and worship you, O Lord, / and glorify your name.</p>
<p>For you are great, and you do wondrous deeds; / you alone are God.</p>
<p>Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, / and to the Holy Spirit,</p>
<p>As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be / world without end. Amen.</p>
<p>Antiphon</p>
<p>All: Therefore I say to you, all things whatever you ask for in prayer, / believe that you shall receive, and they shall come to you.</p>
<p>P. (Chapter&ndash;Philippians 4:47) Rejoice in the Lord always: again I say, rejoice. Let your moderation be known to all men. The Lord is near. Have no anxiety, but in every prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your petitions be made known to God. And may the peace of God which surpasses all understanding guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.</p>
<p>R. Thanks be to God.<br>V. I will sing praise to You in the sight of the angels.<br>R. I will worship toward Your holy temple, and I will give glory to Your name.<br>V. The Lord be with you.<br>R. And with your spirit.</p>
<p>Let us pray.</p>
<p>P. O Lord Jesus Christ, You have said: Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you. Grant, we beg of You, to us Your supplicants, the gift of Your most divine love, so that we may love You with our whole heart and in all our words and works, and never cease praising You, who live and are King world without end.</p>
<p>R. Amen.<br>V. St. Isidore.<br>R. Pray for us.</p>
<p>Prayer in Honor of Saint Isidore</p>
<p>All: O God, who taught Adam the simple art of tilling the soil, / and who through Jesus Christ, the true vine, / revealed Yourself the husbandman of our souls, / deign, we pray, through the merits of blessed Isidore, / to instill into our hearts a horror of sin and a love of prayer, / so that, working the soil in the sweat of our brow, / we may enjoy eternal happiness in heaven, through the same Christ our Lord.</p>
<p>R. Amen.<br>V. The Lord be with you.<br>R. And with your spirit.<br>V. Let us bless the Lord.<br>R. Thanks be to God.<br>V. May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.<br>R. Amen.</p>
<p>REFLECTION<br>Growing up in Kansas gave me a deep appreciation for the land and farmers who tend the land. The desire to cultivate the land lies deep within our being and goes back to our creation when God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden to till and keep it (Genesis 2:15). We have built within each one of us a love and care for God&rsquo;s creation.</p>
<p>Whether you live in a rural or urban area, the desire to cultivate and tend the land is within us. We see this today as many people, including young families and young adults, are taking up homesteading, growing gardens, growing vegetables, raising chickens, and more.</p>
<p>As people cultivate the land, they are also finding beautiful opportunities to generously share the fruits of their labor with others. They are performing corporal works of mercy and sharing the gifts God has given them. I have seen people share the fruit of their labor with neighbors, family, friends, food banks, shelters, etc. They are uniting the use of their property and land to their prayers and trust in God&rsquo;s bounty. When united with God and his purposes, gardening and homesteading lends itself to love of God and neighbor!</p>
<p>My friends, I encourage each of us, whatever environment we may be in, whether we live in a city, a small town, or out on a farm, and whatever our profession may be, whether a farmer, a stay at home mother or father, or a business professional who dabbles in a hobby, to ask the Holy Spirit to come down and inspire the works of our hands, that in all we do we may give glory to God, who created the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all that fills the universe.</p>
<p>St. Isidore, pray for us!</p>
<p>Bishop David Ricken<br>Diocese of Green Bay</p>
<p>Recite the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be (etc.) three times, followed by a prayer of your choice for special needs.</p>
<p>Click here to see other days of the novena.&nbsp;</p>

Day 8: Trust in Prayer

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<h1 class="py-4 my-0 text-center has-black-color">Novena to St. Isidore &ndash; Day 1: Partnership with God</h1>
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<p class="kt-adv-heading536_cfb59f-fd wp-block-kadence-advancedheading" data-kb-block="kb-adv-heading536_cfb59f-fd">O Lord, as You have made the earth,<br>To man and beast have given birth,<br>Have given sun and rain that thence<br>The soil might give them sustenance:<br>We beg You make us willing to<br>Perform the law we get from You<br>That work of ours and grace of Yours<br>May bring the increase that endures.<br>Through Jesus Christ let this be done,<br>Who lives and reigns, our Lord, Your son,<br>Whom with the Spirit we adore<br>One God with You forevermore.</p>
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<p class="kt-adv-heading536_0e2e09-44 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading" data-kb-block="kb-adv-heading536_0e2e09-44">P. How manifold are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you have wrought them all; the earth is full of your creatures.<br><br>(Psalm 8)<br><br><strong>All:</strong>&nbsp;O Lord, our Lord, how glorious is your name over all the earth! You have exalted your name above the heavens.<br><br>Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings you have fashioned praise because of your foes, to silence the hostile and the vengeful.<br><br>When I behold your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you set in place:<br><br>What is man that you should be mindful of him, or the son of man that you should care for him?<br><br>You have made him little less than the angels, and crowned him with glory and honor.<br><br>You have given him rule over the works of your hands, putting all things under his feet:<br><br>All sheep and oxen, yes, and the beasts of the field.<br>The birds of the air, the fishes of the sea, and whatever swims the paths of the seas.<br><br>O Lord, our Lord, how glorious is your name over all the earth!<br><br>Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,<br>As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.</p>
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<p class="kt-adv-heading536_c13197-3a wp-block-kadence-advancedheading" data-kb-block="kb-adv-heading536_c13197-3a"><strong>All:</strong>&nbsp;How manifold are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you have wrought them all; the earth is full of your creatures.<br><br>P. (Chapter&ndash;Genesis 1:25 and 2:15) God made all kinds of wild beasts, every kind of cattle, and every kind of creature crawling on the ground. And God saw that it was good. The Lord God took the man and placed him in the Garden of Eden, to till it and to keep it.<br><strong>R.</strong>&nbsp;Thanks be to God.<br>V. You raise grass for the cattle and vegetation for men&rsquo;s use.<br><strong>R.</strong>&nbsp;Producing bread from the earth, and wine to gladden men&rsquo;s hearts.<br>V. The Lord be with you.<br><strong>R.</strong>&nbsp;And with your spirit.<br><br>Let us pray.<br><br>P. Grant, we beg of You, O Merciful Lord, that through the intercession of blessed Isidore, farmer and confessor, we may forego the pride of worldly wisdom, and that, through his merits and exemplary life, we may, with all humility, ever perform works pleasing to You, through our Lord, Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and is King and God with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever.<br><strong>R.</strong>&nbsp;Amen.<br>V. St. Isidore.<br><strong>R.</strong>&nbsp;Pray for us.</p>
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<p class="kt-adv-heading536_d4c0f1-3a wp-block-kadence-advancedheading" data-kb-block="kb-adv-heading536_d4c0f1-3a"><em>Antiphon</em></p>
<p class="kt-adv-heading536_9ae5ad-c1 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading" data-kb-block="kb-adv-heading536_9ae5ad-c1"><strong>All:</strong>&nbsp;How manifold are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you have wrought them all; the earth is full of your creatures.<br><br>P. (Chapter&ndash;Genesis 1:25 and 2:15) God made all kinds of wild beasts, every kind of cattle, and every kind of creature crawling on the ground. And God saw that it was good. The Lord God took the man and placed him in the Garden of Eden, to till it and to keep it.<br><strong>R.</strong>&nbsp;Thanks be to God.<br>V. You raise grass for the cattle and vegetation for men&rsquo;s use.<br><strong>R.</strong>&nbsp;Producing bread from the earth, and wine to gladden men&rsquo;s hearts.<br>V. The Lord be with you.<br><strong>R.</strong>&nbsp;And with your spirit.<br><br>Let us pray.<br><br>P. Grant, we beg of You, O Merciful Lord, that through the intercession of blessed Isidore, farmer and confessor, we may forego the pride of worldly wisdom, and that, through his merits and exemplary life, we may, with all humility, ever perform works pleasing to You, through our Lord, Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and is King and God with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever.<br><strong>R.</strong>&nbsp;Amen.<br>V. St. Isidore.<br><strong>R.</strong>&nbsp;Pray for us.</p>
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<p class="kt-adv-heading536_8e58b6-1e wp-block-kadence-advancedheading" data-kb-block="kb-adv-heading536_8e58b6-1e"><em>Prayer in Honor of Saint Isidore</em><br><br><strong>All:</strong>&nbsp;O God, who taught Adam the simple art of tilling the soil, and who through Jesus Christ, the true vine, revealed Yourself the husbandman of our souls, deign, we pray, through the merits of blessed Isidore, to instill into our hearts a horror of sin and a love of prayer, so that, working the soil in the sweat of our brow, we may enjoy eternal happiness in heaven, through the same Christ our Lord.<br><br><strong>R.</strong>&nbsp;Amen.<br>V. The Lord be with you.<br><strong>R.</strong>&nbsp;And with your spirit.<br>V. Let us bless the Lord.<br><strong>R.</strong>&nbsp;Thanks be to God.<br>V. May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.<br><strong>R.</strong>&nbsp;Amen.</p>
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<p>Every task carries the opportunity to be a prayer. Whether plowing, planting, or harvesting, these tasks of bringing forth the fruits of the earth can also bring forth heavenly fruits. Tradition suggests St. Isidore would sometimes show up late to work because he spent too much time in prayer at Mass; but he would carry forth this prayer into his daily labors on the farm. Mass has a way of centering us on Christ. If we allow ourselves to be fascinated by him each day, our lives will never be the same. When we are fascinated by someone, our thoughts and actions are filled with them. When our actions are filled with Christ, those actions become a work of prayer.</p>
<p>While attending daily Mass is not always possible for everyone, especially in our rural communities, God gives each of us the gift of time and asks us to steward it well. Farmers and ranchers understand the concept of stewardship in a very practical, lived sense. Caring for the earth and for animals&mdash;the gifts of God&mdash;produces abundance that can be shared with others. Similarly, the time we give to God produces spiritual abundance in our lives that also can be shared with others. Just as St. Isidore turned his farm labors into prayer, we too can offer our daily work as a prayer. Allowing God access to every aspect of our lives allows him to do so much more with our lives than we could on our own. Let us make our labor, our very lives, a prayer.</p>
<p>by&nbsp;<em>Bishop James Golka<br>Diocese of Colorado Springs<br>Catholic Rural Life Board Member</em></p>
<p><em>Recite the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be (etc.), three times, followed by a prayer of your choice for special needs.</em></p>
<p class="has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-683b2db3a466dca3cce278e27f02d21f"><a href="https://catholicrurallife.org/resources/spiritual/novena-to-st-isidore/"><mark class="has-inline-color has-yellow-color">Click here</mark></a> to see other days of the novena.&nbsp;</p>
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Day 1: Partnership with God

<h1>Novena to St. Isidore &ndash; Day 4: Dignity of Work</h1>
<p>Hymn</p>
<p>Lord, our God, whose mighty hand<br>Carved out the seas and built the land;<br>Who, by the labors of our Lord,<br>The honor Adam lost, restored:</p>
<p>Let us be joined to Christ, Your Son,<br>That in His work we may be one;<br>So we shall in our work partake<br>Of God, whom we by sloth forsake.</p>
<p>Through Jesus Christ let this be done<br>Who lives and reigns, our Lord, Your Son,<br>Whom with the Spirit we adore,<br>One God with You forevermore.</p>
<p>Antiphon</p>
<p>P. The work of the just is unto life: / but the fruit of the wicked unto sin.</p>
<p>(Psalm 126)</p>
<p>All: Unless the Lord built the house, they labor in vain who build it.</p>
<p>Unless the Lord guard the city, / in vain does the guard keep vigil.</p>
<p>It is vain for you to rise early, / or put off your rest,</p>
<p>You that eat hard-earned bread, / for he gives to his beloved in sleep.</p>
<p>Behold, sons are a gift from the Lord; / the fruit of the womb is a reward.</p>
<p>Like arrows in the hand of a warrior / are the sons of one&rsquo;s youth.</p>
<p>Happy the man whose quiver is filled with them; / he shall not be put to shame when they contend with enemies at the gate.</p>
<p>Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, / and to the Holy Spirit,</p>
<p>As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be / world without end. Amen</p>
<p>Antiphon</p>
<p>All: The work of the just is unto life: / but the fruit of the wicked unto sin.</p>
<p>P. (Chapter&ndash;II Thessalonians 3:8-12) Neither did we eat any man&rsquo;s bread at his cost, but we worked night and day in labor and toil, so that we might not burden any of you. Not that we did not have the right to do so, but that we might make ourselves an example for you to imitate us. For, indeed when we were with you we used to charge you: if any man will not work, neither let him eat. For we have heard that some among you are living irregularly, doing no work but busy at meddling. Now such persons we charge and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ that with quietness they work and eat their own bread.</p>
<p>R. Thanks be to God.<br>V. Honor the Lord with your substance.<br>R. And give him of the first of all your fruits.<br>V. The Lord be with you.<br>R. And with your spirit.</p>
<p>Let us pray.</p>
<p>P. O Lord, let us follow the blessed farmer Isidore&rsquo;s example of patience and humility, and walk so faithfully in his footsteps that by his intercession in the evening of life, we can offer You a rich harvest of merits and good works, through Christ our Lord.</p>
<p>R. Amen.<br>V. St. Isidore.<br>R. Pray for us.</p>
<p>Prayer in Honor of Saint Isidore</p>
<p>All: O God, who taught Adam the simple art of tilling the soil, / and who through Jesus Christ, the true vine, / revealed Yourself the husbandman of our souls, / deign, we pray, through the merits of blessed Isidore, / to instill into our hearts a horror of sin and a love of prayer, / so that, working the soil in the sweat of our brow, / we may enjoy eternal happiness in heaven, through the same Christ our Lord.</p>
<p>R. Amen.<br>V. The Lord be with you.<br>R. And with your spirit.<br>V. Let us bless the Lord.<br>R. Thanks be to God.<br>V. May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. R. Amen.</p>
<p>REFLECTION<br>As bishop of a rural diocese, I deeply appreciate the vocation of agriculture. It is one of the most ancient and noble professions in the world. Of course, just because someone is involved in agriculture, that doesn&rsquo;t mean they&rsquo;re automatically a walking saint. Nevertheless, when it is approached properly, rural life builds character and is a path to holiness. It builds on the dynamics of family life, responsibility, helping one&rsquo;s neighbor, and a healthy rhythm of work, rest, and prayer.</p>
<p>I believe there is a natural affinity for spirituality in the hearts of those who work the land. Farmers and ranchers realize how much we all depend on God to survive.</p>
<p>Rural life feeds a sense of prayerfulness. In the countryside, the gift of wide-open spaces leads us to ponder the greatness of God. To be able to see the horizon all around, to watch the development of an afternoon storm, or to admire the colors of a glorious sunset, draws our mind to the infinite imagination of God, the divine artist who creates it all.</p>
<p>Those who work to produce food and fiber have the privilege of collaborating in God&rsquo;s ongoing work of creation. Raising animals and tilling the earth is a direct response to God&rsquo;s call to exercise faithful stewardship. It brings a tremendous sense of fulfillment to know that one is helping to feed and clothe the world. Through the work of our human hands, God takes the raw materials of this world and sustains the precious gift of life.</p>
<p>Bishop Michael Sis<br>Diocese of San Angelo</p>
<p>Recite the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be (etc.), three times, followed by a prayer of your choice for special needs.</p>
<p>Click here to see other days of the novena.&nbsp;</p>

Day 4: Dignity of Work

The Brothers Karamazov

<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center">Novena to St. Isidore &ndash; Patron of Farmers and CRL</h4>
<p><em>Arranged for parish, group and family use</em></p>
<p>This Novena to honor St. Isidore is intended for parish and home use. In the church, the leader should be the priest or someone designated by him. In the home, father, mother or child can take the lead.</p>
<p>The Novena can also be read by individuals online: simply click on the nine Novena days listed below. A printable pdf of the novena is also available to CRL members in your member portal. We hope you enjoy the prayers and reflections in quiet thought.</p>
<h4 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center">Appropriate Times for the Novena</h4>
<p><em><strong>May 7-15:</strong>&nbsp;To end on the feast of St. Isidore</em><br>It is suggested that seeds be blessed on an appropriate Sunday in the parish church.</p>
<p><em><strong>August 7-15:</strong>&nbsp;To end on the feast of the Assumption (known also as the feast of Our Lady of the Fields).</em><br>It is an immemorial custom in the Church to bless herbs and flowers on that day.</p>
<p><em><strong>November, eight days preceding Thanksgiving Day.</strong></em><br>As Americans, we join the nation in a day of thanks to God for all benefits received. This can be the Harvest Novena.</p>