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Saint Margaret of Cortona |
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Feast Day:
February 22
- Profile
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Farmer's daughter. Her mother
died when Margaret was seven years old, and her
stepmother considered her a nuisance. 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.
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- Born
- 1247 at Loviano, Tuscany,
Italy
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- Died
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22 February 1297 at Cortona
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Canonized
- 1728 by
Pope
Benedict XIII
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Patronage
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against temptations,
falsely accused people,
hoboes,
homeless people,
insanity,
loss of parents,
mental illness,
mentally ill people,
midwives,
penitent women,
people ridiculed for their piety,
reformed prostitutes,
sexual temptation,
single laywomen,
tertiaries,
tramps
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- Images
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Gallery of images of Saint Margaret
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- Reading
- 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 request 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
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