Catholicism 101 Saint of the Issue

Saint of the Issue: Isidore of Seville

April 30, 2021
Thomas Pauloz
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Born about 560 in Cartagena, Spain, St. Isidore is revered as the last great Latin Father, as an ancient Christian philosopher, and as a Doctor of the Church. The Catholic Encyclopedia deems him “undoubtedly the most learned man of his age.” He also has been called “The Schoolmaster of the Middle Ages” because of his prolific work Etymologiae, the first Catholic encyclopedia, which was used as a textbook for nine centuries. A master learner and teacher, Isidore exemplified the fruits of a lifelong pursuit of knowledge.

Isidore grew up amidst high expectations. Leander, his older brother, was Archbishop of Seville and was in charge of Isidore’s education. Florentina, Isidore’s sister, became an abbess managing forty convents, and Fulgentius, Isidore’s younger brother, became Bishop of Astigi. All three have been canonized saints along with Isidore.

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St. Leander’s method of educating Isidore, however, was quite harsh. Leander employed pressure and punishment to ensure that Isidore would learn rapidly or face steep consequences. This strategy drove Isidore to great anguish and pain in his failure to meet his brother’s demands, and Isidore ran away from Leander to seek solace. He found God’s answer to his troubles through water falling in droplets onto a rock. Each droplet seemed to have no impact on the stalwart face of stone, yet their cumulative impact was evidenced by holes worn into the solid surface. The metaphor was life-changing for Isidore, and provided a path forward despite his academic downfalls. If he could simply continually apply himself and give strong effort, he could achieve great knowledge. 

When Isidore returned, Leander, out of distrust, locked him in a cell to complete his studies in confinement. Nevertheless, with his newfound perspective Isidore studied with persistence and perseverance. His efforts bore fruit as he quickly became proficient in Greek, Hebrew, and Latin. He reconciled with his brother and the two began to work together. Upon Leander’s death around 600, Isidore succeeded his brother as Archbishop of Seville. 

When Isidore was made bishop, he immediately faced the barbarian Visigoths, who had established a presence in Spain and threatened the country’s Roman Catholic unity through their Arianism. Putting his expansive learning into action, Isidore spent the 37 years of his episcopate working toward the daunting task of reunification of Spain. In an exemplary model for future political and religious leaders, Isidore turned to representative decision-making. Building upon earlier work he had done at the Councils of Toledo and Seville with his brother to eradicate Arianism, Isidore presided over the Second Council of Seville in 619, as well as the Fourth Council of Toledo in 633. From the Fourth Council of Toledo came a decree that all bishops in Spain establish a seminary in the style that Isidore had established in Seville, and that all types of knowledge were taught in the seminary formation, including the arts and medicine. 

St. Isidore remained attentive to education’s purpose. He stated, “Indeed, just as we must love God in contemplation, so we must love our neighbor with action.” So he did, opening his home to those in need. In the last six months of his life, his home was filled throughout the day with those whom he served. He died on April 4, 636, and has been named the patron saint of computers and the Internet for his purposeful compilation of knowledge in his Etymologiae and other works. He is revered to this day for his unification of Spain by representative action, his model of fervent study and purposeful application of knowledge, and his testimony of service and forgiveness as an expression of God’s mercy and love. 

Thomas Pauloz
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