Twas once on Britain's emerald green shore
A lad, who to a simple blacksmith was born
Who was named after St. Isadore.
Sadly, as he grew, he gave his trade much scorn.

He begrudged his simple, meager life
Wishing daily that he had far more.
He envied the squires' peril and strife
While his living was a horrid bore.

One day, while alone, such thoughts plauged his mind
Until he was startled by a knight at the door.
The man was more humble, noble and kind
Then the astounded lad had seen ever before.

Not daring to address a knight, and one so great
The lad lowered his eyes to continue as before.
Lo! Beside the horshoes, he beheld a breastplate.
It's potential was great, but it's quality was poor.

The astonished blacksmith's tongue was loosed now.
"Great sir, is this thine? Didst thou not set it here?"
"I cannot mend it, for I know not how.
"Thou wilt have to go to another, I fear."

"Nay, but thou must. For it is thine."
The knight's meek response made the blacksmith exclaim.
"Then shall the knighthood ere be mine?!"
What a joy! What honor! What glory and fame!

Before the lad even recieved a reply
He spoke to himself of a grand future ahead.
"I shall mend this and to glory shall I fly."
The knight was silent, seeming to know what he said.

But what a task the breastplate created!
As he yet spoke, he beheld it crack and worsen.
"What poor craftsmanship! Who could have made it?"
"This is thy humility, weakened through thy sin."

Hearing this, Isadore knew his armor was not of their regions.
He spoke again, filled with bewilderment and shame.
"Art thou also vested with virtue of spiritual legions?"
"I am a knight of God, and thou canst be the same."

Isadore then beheld a purse of strange coins.
And his footwear and helment, then his sword and sheild.
Lastly came the cloth with which to gird his loins.
However, at that time their meaning was concealed.

Isadore remained silent, and let the knight speak.
"These coins are thy merits, earned by all thy good deeds.
"All the rest are thy virtues, which are now quite weak.
"Fear not, I know thee and can supply all thy needs."

At last, the poor boy could stand it no more.
"Who art thou to so well know my every fault and whim?"
The knight then smiled upon Isadore.
"I am the angel God gave thee to lead thee to Him."

"That being so," said Isadore, with less fear and shame.
"Then, as St. Francis called the young saint he blessed,
"Thou art my good fortune. Bonaventure is thy name.
"Let us now make me a knight among the best."

"First, thy justice" Said the angel, with a cloth tattered and thin.
"My justice?" The bewildered blacksmith then inquired.
"I am known to seek justice more than any among my kin!"
The angel soon imparted the knowledge required.

"God alone, (and Our Lady) are without stain.
"All else have sinned, and sin wounds them deeply.
"When thou seekest justice, it is for thy gain.
"Though for thy sins, thou hast earned such penalty."

"True justice seeks to avenge Them, by battling sin.
"Though thou may not merit whatever the wrong be.
"As when someone strikes thee, and thou didst nothing to him.
"Yet through sin, thou hast struck One more stainless than thee."

"Though knowest the breastplate, so onto Faith's shield."
"How could my faith be weak?" The poor blacksmith cried.
"I know and believe all that God has revealed!"
Bonaventure calmed the boy's fears and replied.

"Such faith as thou thinkest." Isadore was then told.
"That is thy most precious helmet of salvation.
"Without it, Heaven is not for thee to behold.
"This shield is trust in Almighty preservation."

Isadore knew God could preserve him from evil.
Yet so did St. Peter, and he nigh perished at sea.
The youth then began to understand this symbol
Of his need to trust more in God's Power and Mercy.

"Pray tell me, Bonaventure, of the sword."
He wondered, seeing it unharmed in spite of his faults.
"It is Divine Truth, the Word of Our Lord
"And with it, thou must battle satan's worldly assaults."

"This footwear, is perseverance and fortitude.
"All these virtues aid thee in doing God's Will.
"Doing so, these give thy soul strength and pulchritude.
"Yet in thee they must become far stronger still."

"Thou hast an angel, and thou hast a devil.
"Thy damnation is his sole intent.
"He is there to lie of good and of evil.
"For by satan himself was he sent."

Isadore was then armed in his virtues.
All but the helmet and sword, were deformed.
These, he needed to learn well how to use.
So that, through him, God's Will would be performed.

Isadore knew victory relied on his will.
Triumphs and defeats came of the battles he fought.
Some defeats were through the deciet of his devil.
The other defeats were by his mere weakness wrought.

As time passed, his example and speech aided all who listened.
He bade them to beg for grace, without which good cannot be.
His purse of merits was soon filled with varied coins that glistened.
As were those of all who endeavored to act as did he.

One day, the whole village was filled with joy.
The bishop was coming, to give Confirmation when he came.
No one was more pleased than the blacksmith's boy.
His virtues were ready, but he needed to choose a saint's name.

He begged his angel to help him choose the saint God desired.
He loved the King and Queen of Heaven, and all angels and saints therin.
At last, the troubled, undecided young man was inspired.
He would choose, as his Confirmation patron, the Most Blessed Virgin.

Many men have taken Her name for her honor.
So Isadore would that day do the same.
He owed all his virtue and his good will to her.
It would be a joy to take on her name.

On the last day of Mary's month, the feast of Her Coronation
She received a battalion into her Heavenly army.
Many youths and adults in the village received Confirmation.
These spiritual soldiers had yet to prove their fidelity.

Scarcely a year had passed from that great feast
When barbaric pirates raided the coast.
Bloodthirsty heathens from the Middle East
Twas Catholic blood for which they longed most.

Not all Catholics were slain by this horrid race.
Some fled, others taken captive for slavery.
Isadore aided many in fleeing the place.
Many nigh killed were saved through the lad's bravery.

Bonaventure's protection was to thank for the youth's deeds.
The miraculous escapes are too numerous to be told.
However, God alone truly knows all His creatures' needs.
That day, Isadore also was thrown in a pagan ship's hold.

The Catholic slaves were oppressed while yet at sea.
At last the ships docked, and the captives were sold.
Alas! Their new masters showed them still less mercy.
Whipped and flouted for their faith, they remained bold.

Isadore's master sought to rob him of the Faith he held.
Fiery darts of deciet were by this man's demon made.
But through the noble young man's shield of Faith, these were repelled
While the demons were stabbed and slashed by the truth of his blade.

Injustice daily was done to the lad.
Daily for the master, made he acts of reparation.
For with true justce's garb was he clad
And no threats could rob him of his helmet of salvation.

As time passed, Isadore slowly gained admiration.
In spite of himself, the master awed fortitude in such strife.
It kept his slave placid in the heathen's frustration.
It strengthened the youth's strides Heavenward through his arduous life.

"What good do thine void beliefs do thee now?"
To his vexed master's inquiry, Isadore made reply.
"What heathen knows of true goodness, and how?
"They say what is and is not virtue, but cannot say why."

"And men disagree on what truly is Goodness.
"What pleases one man, scandalizes his brother.
"It is abstract virtue we all claim to possess.
"The secret is found in my Faith, and none other.

"What then, is Goodness? How can it be susbstantiated?
"Listen now, master, to what was told me for so long.
"Goodness Itself is the God by whom thou wast created!
"Defying Him defies Goodness, and is thereby wrong."

At first, all commen sense and reason went unheeded.
As he argued, Isadore saw no point to his own exhertion.
Finally, his merits earned the grace the man needed.
Isadore then had the joy of the heathen household's conversion.

Sadly, there were no priests to baptize them.
But they were confident that God would provide.
Yet, Isadore begged God to advise him
When he heard an unearthly voice at his side.

"Thou hast converted many heathens. This is no small feat.
"Thou hast suffered much, and earned wonderful graces.
"In heaven, thou shalt be enthroned in the uppermost seat.
"To be honored forevermore by all races."

Aided by grace, Isadore thwarted the vain temptation.
His breastplate shielded him from that diabolical lance.
But for God, Isadore knew he earned nought but damnation.
Only by Divine Mercy did the lad's soul have a chance.

Another voice spoke. Or was it the same?
"Thou thinkest Heaven is thine to be cherished?
"Even now hast thou sought glory and fame.
"Thou fool! Thou shalt be eternally perished!"

"Dost thou know there is a second purse thou dost wear?
"Behold that which thou thyself daily places therein!"
Suddenly, a putrid sack was hurled through the air.
Isadore was thus attacked by his every sin.

Through this bitter trial, the sinner was not forsaken.
Bonaventure was beside him, fortifying his shield and breastplate.
While, in the knowledge of his sin, he was not mistaken.
It was Isadore's pride that despised seeing in him evil so great.

So, rather than let himself by his sins be consumed.
He begged for forgiveness and the grace never again to stray.
Isadore thus remained faithful, while his demon fumed.
Conquering this temptation, the young man continued to pray.

For a time, the new Catholics were gladly left alone.
They remembered all infidels when they prayed.
They now rejected heathen idols and altars of stone.
Thus was the Faith practiced by those unafraid.

But one horrid day, a pagan law was passed.
A feast to honor their hideous demons was demanded.
As for those not found at this evil repast
Violent death would to such be immediately handed.

The master's household was soon hunted down.
They feared, but Isadore gave them solace.
All were taken for offending the crown.
They soon found themselves in the king's palace.

Isadore and his companions spiritually combatted the sovereign.
All, and their angels, used their virtues to attempt to convey him.
He listened not, but charged his men to open the furnace and cast them therein.
This was to be an example for all who dared disobey him.

Through their blood were the unbaptized martyrs made clean.
With the helmet of salvation were they then crowned.
They soon departed into the vast world unseen
To Heaven, where their eternal joy knows no bound.

When Isadore's time to join them had neared.
He beheld Bonaventure once more
And with him, the Queen of Heaven appeared.
Who reached her hand out to Isadore.

The youth hesitated to clasp it.
Which was why Bonaventure was near.
He brought the lad forward to grasp it.
Isadore was now freed of his fear.

Then Mary led his soul above the earth
While his body was left to decay.
He now enjoys eternal peace and mirth.
Which can never be taken away.

Learn then, what thou can from this simple lad's life.
Strenghten thy virtues, and keep thy soul pure.
Beg for grace in any cross, trial and strife.
Heaven will be there to aid thee for sure.