St. Isidore of Seville

Isidore of Seville was born around 560 to a noble Hispanic-Roman family in Spain. His siblings, Fulgentius, Florentina, and Leander were also saints. St. Leander was bishop of Seville and educated Isidore. Isidore became bishop around 600. He continued Leander’s mission of converting the Visigoths, who were Arians and he finished composing the Mozarabic liturgy Leander had begun. He presided over many significant councils, including the council of Seville in 619, and Toledo in 633. He was considered one the most learned men of his time; he wrote treatises on geography, history, theology, and astronomy. He established schools for the training of priests, which were similar to modern seminaries; these schools included training in medicine and the liberal arts. Isidore was known for his holiness of life; he died on April 4, 636. He was canonized in 1598 and made a Doctor of the Church in 1722.Saint Isidore is not the official patron of computers and the Internet, but he is widely considered to be the most likely candidate. During his time, the seventh century, he assembled an encyclopedia of everything known at the time. His supporters consider this the first database, which is their major reason for him to become patron of the Internet.