St. Isidore of Seville

Their story

Isidore was born around 560 in Spain into a remarkable family. His brothers Leander and Fulgentius became bishops, and his sister Florentina a nun, and all three are honored as saints. After their parents died, his older brother Leander raised and educated him so strictly that young Isidore once ran away. A story tells that he noticed how dripping water had worn a hollow in a stone, and he realized that steady effort could accomplish great things. He went home and gave himself to his studies. Around the year 600 Isidore succeeded Leander as archbishop of Seville and served for more than thirty years. Spain was ruled by the Visigoths, many of whom had followed the Arian heresy, and Isidore worked to strengthen the Catholic faith among them. He led important Church councils and insisted that every diocese have a school to train its clergy, which helped bring learning back to Spain. Isidore loved knowledge and wanted to preserve it. His greatest work, the Etymologies, was an encyclopedia that gathered what was known about almost every subject, from grammar and medicine to history and theology. For centuries it was one of the most widely used books in Europe. He was also known for his generosity to the poor. He died on April 4, 636, and was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1722. Because he worked so hard to gather and share knowledge, many people today invoke him as a patron of the internet.