The Diocese of Phoenix celebrated the feast of St. Isidore, an archbishop and Doctor of the Church, on Monday by posting part of Psalm 23 on its Facebook page. 

“Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for years to come,” was the excerpt posted. To go along with the Psalm posting, the diocese implored, “St. Isidore of Seville, pray for us.”

St. Isidore was born in Spain in the year 560, according to Britannica. 

Isidore later became the Archbishop of Seville and he led the Council of Toledo in 633. This council was noted for several achievements, Britannica says. It established uniformity across Spanish Masses, called for Jews to not be discriminated against, and set up a union between church and state. 

Isidore also continued the work of his brother, St. Leander, in converting people from Arianism to Christianity. Pope Clement VIII canonized Isidore in 1598, and Pope Innocent XIII declared him a Doctor of the Church in 1722, Britannica says.

To become a “Doctor of the Church,” one must meet three criteria, according to Crossroads Initiative. The prerequisites are: “holiness that is truly outstanding, even among saints”; “depth of doctrinal insight”; and “an extensive body of writings which the church can recommend as an expression of the authentic and life-giving Catholic Tradition,” the Initiative says. 

If one meets all those requirements, a Pope can bestow the title upon a person for making significant and lasting contributions to the church. Throughout history, only 36 people have ever been granted this title. 

It has been suggested that St. Isidore should be the patron saint of the internet, despite the fact that he lived long before the internet existed, according to Franciscan Media, because of his teaching and dedication to education. He was sometimes called the "Schoolmaster of the Middle Ages," because an encyclopedia he wrote was used as a textbook for nine hundred years. St. Isidore passed away on April 4, 636, and his feast day is celebrated on the anniversary of his death.