Saint Isidore of Seville

Isidore was born around 560 in Cartagena, Spain, into a family of saints: his brothers Leander and Fulgentius were bishops and his sister Florentina a nun, all honored as saints. Raised by Leander, who was archbishop of Seville, Isidore succeeded him around 600 and led the Church in Seville for more than thirty-five years.

He worked to unite the Visigoths and Hispano-Romans in one Catholic faith, presided over the Fourth Council of Toledo in 633, and urged that every diocese have a school for training clergy. His Etymologies, a vast encyclopedia gathering the knowledge of the ancient world, was copied and studied throughout the Middle Ages. He also wrote histories, theology and a rule for monks. Feeling death near, he gave away his goods to the poor and died in Seville on April 4, 636. He was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1722.

Isidore is especially honored in Seville and in León, where his relics rest in the Royal Basilica of San Isidoro. Because he tried to gather all knowledge in one work, he is often suggested as a patron of the internet, computer users and programmers.

Students and teachers in Spain and Latin America invoke him before exams and research.