Two churches in the country have been privileged to be included in the 15 churches around the world to have been gifted with a first class relic of popular saint San Isidro Labrador.
The initiative was part of the celebration for the culmination of the Jubilee Year for the 400th anniversary of San Isidro’s sainthood.
Also known as St. Isidore the Farmer, the reverend saint is the patron saint of farmers, peasants, the poor and of Madrid, Spain.
Madrid Archbishop Cardinal Carlos Osoro Sierra gifted the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of San Isidro Labrador in Pulilan Bulacan and the San Isidro Parish Makiling in Calamba Laguna with a first class relic of San Isidro Labrador.
Shrine Rector and Parish Priest Fr. Dario Cabral expressed his gratitude for the initiative citing the gift as a blessing that will help enrich and strengthen the spiritual life of the faithful through the example of San Isidro.
“I hope that this will help create and spread devotion to San Isidro as well as deepen the spiritual life of the faithful through his intercession,” Fr. Cabral said over Radio Veritas.
Fr. Cabral said the parish also received a first class relic of the saint during the launching of his Jubilee Year in Spain.
For his part, San Isidro Labrador-Makling Parish Priest Fr. Francis Eugene Fadul said the arrival of the relic of San Isidro is very timely as it coincides with the preparations for the 25th founding anniversary of the [parish in](http://parish.in/) 2025.
The relic is a piece of skin from the incorrupt body of San Isidro Labrador which is kept at the Real Colegiata Iglesia de San Isidro in Spain.
San Isidro Labrador died on Nov. 30, 1172 and was canonized on March 12, 1622 with San Ignacio de Loyola, San Francisco Javier, Santa Teresa de Avila and San Felipe Neri.
RELATED TAGS: #SAN ISIDRO LABRADOR.