St. Isidore the Farmer Coloring Page
This St. Isidore the Farmer coloring page shows the farmhand in his work clothes kneeling in prayer with his goad beside him, while an angel guides a pair of oxen and a plow across the field. The PDF is free to print. Isidore prayed every day and shared with the poor.
The story of St. Isidore the Farmer
About 900 years ago, near the town of Madrid in Spain, there lived a poor farm worker named Isidore. He did not own any land. Every day he worked in the fields of a landowner named Juan de Vargas, plowing the soil with a pair of oxen.
Isidore loved God more than anything. Every morning, before he began his work, he went to Mass. Some of the other workers grumbled. "Isidore is always late," they told the master. So one morning Juan de Vargas went to the field to see for himself. People tell a wonderful story about what he saw. Isidore was at prayer, and an angel was plowing the field for him! Another time the master saw an angel plowing on each side of Isidore. Isidore's work was always done, and done well.
Isidore was poor, but he always shared. He gave food to hungry people who came to his door. One day, after his wife had served all the food in the house, one more hungry man arrived. Isidore asked her to look in the pot again, and stories say she found it full.
Isidore's wife was a good woman named María. They had one son. One day the little boy fell into a deep well. Isidore and María prayed, and the water rose up and brought their son safely to the top.
St. Isidore the Farmer died around 1130. He was named a saint in 1622, together with St. Teresa of Ávila and St. Ignatius of Loyola. He is the patron saint of farmers and of Madrid. His feast is May 15.
What to color
- His clothes: brown, tan or gray, the plain clothes of a farm worker.
- His straw hat: yellow.
- The goad: a long brown stick farmers used to guide their oxen.
- The oxen: white or light brown.
- The angel: a white or pale blue robe and golden wings.
- The field and village: brown furrows, green trees, a blue sky and a yellow sun.
A prayer to pray together
Farm families often ask Isidore's help for their crops and their work. We can say:
St. Isidore the Farmer, pray for us.
Children can add: bless the farmers who grow our food.
Ideas for families and classrooms
- Color this page on his feast, May 15.
- Plant seeds in a cup or a garden, and say a prayer for them.
- Share a meal or a snack with someone, as Isidore shared his food with the hungry.
- Before meals, thank God for the farmers who grow our food.
- Talk about it: Isidore always made time for God before work. When can we make time to pray each day?
Read the full story: St. Isidore the Farmer in the encyclopedia.
Frequently asked questions
What colors should I use for St. Isidore the Farmer?
Isidore wore the plain clothes of a farm worker, so brown, tan and gray work well, with a yellow straw hat. Make the oxen white or light brown, the earth brown and the angel's robe white or pale blue.
Why is there an angel plowing the field?
People tell a story that Isidore went to Mass every morning before work. When other workers complained that he came late, his master went to watch and saw angels plowing beside Isidore, so the work was always done. It is a legend, but it shows that God blessed his faithful work.
What is St. Isidore the patron saint of?
He is the patron saint of farmers, day laborers and rural communities, and of the city of Madrid in Spain.
Is this coloring page free for schools?
Yes. Print as many copies as you need for your home, classroom or parish.