Saint Margaret of Cortona
![[painting of Saint Margaret]](saintm27.jpg "26kb jpg painting of Saint Margaret of Cortona, artist unknown; if you have information on this image, please email me; please do not write to ask about the image")
- Memorial
- 22 February
- Profile
- Farmer's daughter.
Her mother died when Margaret was seven years old, and her stepmother considered her a nuisance.
She eloped with a young nobleman from Montepulciano, bore him a son, and lived as his mistress for nine years.
In 1274 he was murdered by brigands, and his body dumped in a shallow grave.
Margaret saw the incident as a sign from God.
She publicly confessed to the affair, and tried to return to her father's house; he would not accept her.
She and her son took shelter with the Friars Minor at Cortona.
Still young and attractive, Margaret sometimes had trouble resisting temptation, but each incident was followed by periods of deep self-loathing.
To make herself unappealing to local young men, she once tried to mutilate herself, but was stopped by a Friar named Giunta.
She earned her keep by tending to sick women.
She later began caring for the sick poor, living on alms, asking nothing for her services.
Became a Franciscan tertiary in 1277.
Margaret developed an deep and intense prayer life, and was given to ecstacies during which she received messages from heaven.
In 1286 she received charter to work with the sick poor.
She gathered others of like mind, and formed them into tertiaries.
They were later given the status of a congregation, and called the Poverelle (Poor Ones).
Founded a hospital at Cortona.
Preached against vice to any who would listen.
Developed a great devotion to the Eucharist and Passion.
Prophesied the date of her own death.
Though she worked for those in need, and though the poor sought her help and advice, the calumny of her earlier life followed her the rest of her days, and she was forever the target of local gossips.
- Born
- 1247 at Loviano, Tuscany, Italy
- Died
- 22 February 1297 at Cortona, Italy of natural causes
- Canonized
- 1728 by Pope Benedict XIII
- Patronage
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against insanity
against mental illness
against temptations
falsely accused people
hoboes
homeless people
loss of parents
mentally ill people
midwives
penitent women
people ridiculed for their piety
reformed prostitutes
sexual temptation
single laywomen
tertiaries
tramps
- Images
- Gallery of images of Saint Margaret
- Additional Information
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Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
Catholic Encyclopedia, by Father Cuthbert
Catholic Online
For All The Saints, by Katherine Rabenstein
Google Directory
New Catholic Dictionary
Our Sunday Visitor's Encyclopedia of Saints, by Matthew Bunson, Margaret Bunson, and Stephen Bunson
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- Readings
- O Saint Margaret of Cortona, I too come today as a pilgrim and I pause to pray with you at the feet of the image of Christ Crucified and Risen, whom, as a penitent, you contemplated at length.
Lord Jesus, crucified for us, in offering yourself on Calvary for all humanity, you have revealed to us the wellsprings of everlasting life.
May the mystery of your Passion enlighten our life making us ready to follow you on the way of holiness and love.
Rekindle our faith; teach us to recognize and welcome in our everyday life the plans of your mysterious Providence.
Give us the courage to confess our sins and open our hearts to sorrow, in order to receive the gift of your mercy.
Empower us to forgive our brethren following the example of your love that knows no bounds.
Help us to be humbly disposed to repair the harm we have done by actively and generously serving the poor, the sick, and all who are marginalized and without hope.
Give everyone the joy of persevering faithfully, in full harmony with the Church, along the way of the particular calling.
Above all others, show the young the splendid plan of love that you intend to bring about for them and with them at the threshold of the new millennium.
Enable us to be peacemakers, tenacious weavers of daily relationships of fraternal solidarity, artisans of reconciliation, witnesses and apostles of the civilization of love.
O glorious Saint Margaret of Cortona, present this rquest to your Crucified Lord and ours.
Guide us with the strength of your example, support us with your constant protection, be our companion we beg you, till we reach our Father's house.
Amen.
-Pope John Paul II, 1999