Hymn
Lord, our God, whose mighty hand
Carved out the seas and built the land;
Who, by the labors of our Lord,
The honor Adam lost, restored:
Let us be joined to Christ, Your Son,
That in His work we may be one;
So we shall in our work partake
Of God, whom we by sloth forsake.
Through Jesus Christ let this be done
Who lives and reigns, our Lord, Your Son,
Whom with the Spirit we adore,
One God with You forevermore.
Antiphon
P. The work of the just is unto life: / but the fruit of the wicked unto sin.
(Psalm 126)
All: Unless the Lord built the house, they labor in vain who build it.
Unless the Lord guard the city, / in vain does the guard keep vigil.
It is vain for you to rise early, / or put off your rest,
You that eat hard-earned bread, / for he gives to his beloved in sleep.
Behold, sons are a gift from the Lord; / the fruit of the womb is a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior / are the sons of one’s youth.
Happy the man whose quiver is filled with them; / he shall not be put to shame when they contend with enemies at the gate.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, / and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be / world without end. Amen
Antiphon
All: The work of the just is unto life: / but the fruit of the wicked unto sin.
P. (Chapter–II Thessalonians 3:8-12) Neither did we eat any man’s bread at his cost, but we worked night and day in labor and toil, so that we might not burden any of you. Not that we did not have the right to do so, but that we might make ourselves an example for you to imitate us. For, indeed when we were with you we used to charge you: if any man will not work, neither let him eat. For we have heard that some among you are living irregularly, doing no work but busy at meddling. Now such persons we charge and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ that with quietness they work and eat their own bread.
R. Thanks be to God.
V. Honor the Lord with your substance.
R. And give him of the first of all your fruits.
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with your spirit.
Let us pray.
P. O Lord, let us follow the blessed farmer Isidore’s example of patience and humility, and walk so faithfully in his footsteps that by his intercession in the evening of life, we can offer You a rich harvest of merits and good works, through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
V. St. Isidore.
R. Pray for us.
Prayer in Honor of Saint Isidore
All: O God, who taught Adam the simple art of tilling the soil, / and who through Jesus Christ, the true vine, / revealed Yourself the husbandman of our souls, / deign, we pray, through the merits of blessed Isidore, / to instill into our hearts a horror of sin and a love of prayer, / so that, working the soil in the sweat of our brow, / we may enjoy eternal happiness in heaven, through the same Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with your spirit.
V. Let us bless the Lord.
R. Thanks be to God.
V. May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. R. Amen.
REFLECTION
As bishop of a rural diocese, I deeply appreciate the vocation of agriculture. It is one of the most ancient and noble professions in the world. Of course, just because someone is involved in agriculture, that doesn’t mean they’re automatically a walking saint. Nevertheless, when it is approached properly, rural life builds character and is a path to holiness. It builds on the dynamics of family life, responsibility, helping one’s neighbor, and a healthy rhythm of work, rest, and prayer.
I believe there is a natural affinity for spirituality in the hearts of those who work the land. Farmers and ranchers realize how much we all depend on God to survive.
Rural life feeds a sense of prayerfulness. In the countryside, the gift of wide-open spaces leads us to ponder the greatness of God. To be able to see the horizon all around, to watch the development of an afternoon storm, or to admire the colors of a glorious sunset, draws our mind to the infinite imagination of God, the divine artist who creates it all.
Those who work to produce food and fiber have the privilege of collaborating in God’s ongoing work of creation. Raising animals and tilling the earth is a direct response to God’s call to exercise faithful stewardship. It brings a tremendous sense of fulfillment to know that one is helping to feed and clothe the world. Through the work of our human hands, God takes the raw materials of this world and sustains the precious gift of life.
Bishop Michael Sis
Diocese of San Angelo
Recite the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be (etc.), three times, followed by a prayer of your choice for special needs.
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