Today, May 15th, Madrid celebrates its patron saint, San Isidro. As an adopted “madrileño,” it’s a big day for me. Not only because this town and this country has a deep significance for me as a Pilgrim. It is also because I find this saint so personal, and his low-key sainthood so attractive—in a similar way to Saint Joseph. San Isidro left no great works, sayings, or monuments behind. He was a humble farm worker all his life. 

 

He is known principally for one of the great virtues which should be part of every Christian’s life: generosity.  This he displayed not only with his fellow man but even with animals.

 

Generosity goes hand and hand with charity, the Christian love that comes from God. But rarely is it mentioned as part of spiritual life, when surely it should be one of its cornerstones.

 

A generous person gives, be it money, favors, love, or friendship, and as Saint Paul reminds us, God loves the cheerful giver. The generous person gives to those around him, to friends or to strangers, to the Church and its works. You don’t need money to be able to give; you just need to give regardless.  

 

In “Wedding Song,” Bob Dylan nails it: “When I was deep in poverty, you taught me how to give.”   Or as Jack London memorably pointed out: “Giving a dog a bone is not charity. Charity is sharing the bone with the dog, when you are just as hungry as he is.”

 

Sentiments I am sure that San Isidro, the generous Saint of Madrid, would heartily agree with.  

 

¡Viva San Isidro, Viva Madrid!