This didn't make life easier for Isidore. To the contrary, Leander may have been holy in many ways, but his treatment of his little brother shocked many even at the time. Leander, who was much older than Isidore, took over Isidore's education and his pedagogical theory involved force and punishment. We know from Isidore's later accomplishments that he was intelligent and hard-working so it is hard to understand why Leander thought abuse would work instead of patience.

One day, the young boy couldn't take any more. Frustrated by his inability to learn as fast as his brother wanted and hurt by his brother's treatment, Isidore ran away. But though he could escape his brother's hand and words, he couldn't escape his own feeling of failure and rejection. When he finally let the outside world catch his attention, he noticed water dripping on the rock near where he sat. The drops of water that fell repeatedly carried no force and seemed to have no effect on the solid stone. And yet he saw that over time, the water drops had worn holes in the rock.

Isidore realized that if he kept working at his studies, his seemingly small efforts would eventually pay off in great learning. He also may have hoped that his efforts would also wear down the rock of his brother's heart.

When he returned home, however, his brother in exasperation confined him to a cell (probably in a monastery) to complete his studies, not believing that he wouldn't run away again.

Either there must have been a loving side to this relationship or Isidore was remarkably forgiving even for a saint, because later he would work side by side with his brother and after Leander's death, Isidore would complete many of the projects he began including a missal and breviary.

In a time where it's fashionable to blame the past for our present and future problems, Isidore was able to separate the abusive way he was taught from the joy of learning. He didn't run from learning after he left his brother but embraced education and made it his life's work. Isidore rose above his past to become known as the greatest teacher in Spain.

His love of learning made him promote the establishment of a seminary in every diocese of Spain. He didn't limit his own studies and didn't want others to as well. In a unique move, he made sure that all branches of knowledge including the arts and medicine were taught in the seminaries.

His encyclopedia of knowledge, the Etymologies, was a popular textbook for nine centuries. He also wrote books on grammar, astronomy, geography, history, and biography as well as theology. When the Arabs brought study of Aristotle back to Europe, this was nothing new to Spain because Isidore's open mind had already reintroduced the philosopher to students there.

As bishop of Seville for 37 years, succeeding Leander, he set a model for representative government in Europe. Under his direction, and perhaps remembering the tyrannies of his brother, he rejected autocratic decision- making and organized synods to discuss government of the Spanish Church.

Still trying to wear away rock with water, he helped convert the barbarian Visigoths from Arianism to Christianity.

He lived until almost 80. As he was dying his house was filled with crowds of poor he was giving aid and alms to. One of his last acts was to give all his possessions to the poor.

He died in year 636. Today, we celebrate his feast day every 4th day of April.

I know you're also interested to know who's the patron saint of who of the Internet age. Getting hi-tech doesn't mean there's no room for professing our faith in our beloved saints. Since the Internet is so new, many of the patrons are derived from older sources and appropriate professions.

San Fernando is not just the name of the capital cities of Pampanga and La Union provinces, he is also the patron saint of engineers. And since we Electronics and Communications Engineers belong to that profession, we should turn to him in times of engineering needs, don't you think?!

St. Francis de Sales is the patron saint of editors, word processing, and editing. So if you're a computer encoder who needs to type accurately fast at 60 words-per-minute, St. Francis is the saint to turn to to avoid typographical errrrors, oops.. I mean errors!

St. Gabriel, one of the famous archangels who guides us in our daily lives, is the patron saint of all kinds of communications, and that includes e-mail, chat, voice-over IP, and yes, even ICQ, Yahoo!Messenger and AOL Instant Messenger!!! Remember, communication generally means transfer of information or data from a place or person to another! Ü

Santa Clara or Saint Claire is the patron saint of television, electronics, and of the Internet. She's also the beloved saint to turn to before board exams to bless the pencils and calculators to be used for the exam, and to offer eggs or fruits for her. (St. Claire Church is located along Katipunan Ave. near Aurora Blvd. interchange in Quezon City)

St. Jude, as we know very well, is the patron saint for lost causes or desperate cases, very fitting for computer users in times of system crashes and fatal errors. Say a novena for nine straight Thursdays to him and see how he really works. (St. Jude Thaddeus Archdiocesan Shrine is located along Jose P. Laurel St., Manila, near Malacanang gate)

SOURCE: Catholic Online and PatronSaints.com