St. Margaret of Cortona

St. Margaret of Cortona Biography

St. Margaret of Cortona (1247 -1297) was an Italian penitent and mystic, who is honored as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church. Her feast day is celebrated on February 22nd.

St. Margaret was born into a noble family in Laviano, Italy. At the age of 18, she fell in love with a wealthy young man, with whom she had a son. However, their relationship ended tragically when her lover was murdered, leaving Margaret alone and pregnant.

Feeling guilty and ashamed, Margaret decided to turn her life around and dedicate herself to God. She moved to the town of Cortona, where she lived a life of penitence and devotion, dedicating herself to serving the poor and the sick.

Margaret was known for her deep faith and devotion, as well as her humility and charity. She often went without food or clothing to give to the poor, and she spent hours in prayer and contemplation.

She had many mystical experiences and visions, which helped her to understand the love of God and the importance of love and compassion. She also had the stigmata, wounds resembling those of Jesus on the cross, which appeared on her hands, feet and side.

In 1288, Margaret joined the Third Order of St. Francis, a lay fraternity of the Franciscan Order which follows the rule of life of the Franciscan religious order. She spent the rest of her life living in the Third Order of St. Francis.

After her death, Margaret’s cult quickly spread and she was considered a saint by popular acclaim. In 1728, Pope Benedict XIII canonized her, and her cult has continued to spread throughout the centuries.

St. Margaret of Cortona is considered the patroness of the Third Order of St. Francis and also of single mothers, of conversion, of the falsely accused, of the poor and abandoned, and of the repentant. Her life serves as an inspiration for anyone who seeks to turn their life around and dedicate themselves to God, despite their past mistakes.

The Life of St. Margaret of Cortona

This glorious Saint, who was destined by God to draw countless souls from an evil life to a life of grace, was born in 1247 at Laviano, a small time about twelve miles from Cortona: Italy. When seven or eight years old, Margaret’s saintly mother died. In time her father remarried, and St, Margaret was treated harshly by her stepmother.

About this time a young nobleman from Montepulciano came to reside at the country home of his family, not far from Laviano. Riding to Laviano one day he saw St. Maragaret of Cortona and was struck by her charming beauty. He continued to visit Laviano, and, with each visit ensure he ran into the future saint. She was invited to the palace at Montepulciano, which he asked her to share with him.

Margaret unhappy with her home life, and desiring to exchange ill-treatment for affection, a poor cottage for a grand house, splendid attire for a humble garb, yielded to the enticements of the young nobleman, and joined him at his palace. For a while Margaret, flattered by the attentions she received, felt a joy to which she had been a stranger since her mother’s death.

A Personal Confession

However, she was not truly happy: deep down in her heart and soul she realized that her life was one of sin. And though her conscience reproached and stung her, she lacked the courage to break the bonds which had enchained her. God’s time, however, was near, when not only His justice would be felt but His mercy, also, shown.

A dispute arose with a neighbor of the palace over the boundaries of the property, and as such the young nobleman went out to settle the disputed claim. When he met with those who were staking claim to his land; a fight broke out, and the young noble was killed. After several days absence his faithful dog returned home and led Margaret to the place where her lover had been buried beneath some leaves in the woods.

St. Margaret of Cortona’s Repentance

As she gazed upon the corpse before her, the eyes of her soul were opened by God’s grace to see that his soul had passed to the judgment seat of God, and that she would face the same fate unless she repented. She fell to the ground in tears as a sinner, but arose a penitent .Margaret returned to the palace a changed woman.

She determined henceforth to do all in her power to rid her life of her previous sins through prayer and penance. Discarding her rich robes, she clothed herself in the garb of a penitent, disposed of all the wealth that had been lavished upon her, and then sought a new humble home for herself.

Upon reaching Cortona she made a general confession and placed herself under the direction of the Friars Minor. The remainder of her life was devoted to prayer and good works. In order to give herself more completely to God, she retired to a desert place on the hill above Cortona, where she spent the last nine years of her life. As the morning of February 22, 1297, dawned, the soul of Margaret passed into the unveiled presence of God to receive the reward which she had so earnestly striven to gain by her life of penance.

Popular St. Margaret of Cortona Medal and St. Margaret Cortona Rosary

Prayers to St. Margaret of Cortona

Prayer of Intercession to St. Margaret of Cortona

O blessed St. Margaret, when you decided to follow Jesus by committing yourself to a life of penance, you received no support from your father, stepmother or the rest of your family. However, you did not get discouraged. You persisted in your calling, attracting the admiration of many people, including the Pope. Your sins inspired you to be holy because of the humiliation you received. Enable us/me to believe that God can make straight our/my crooked paths, and make us/me not dwell on past mistakes and sins. Inspire us/me to experience God’s mercy so that we may look forward to a life with Him in heaven. Amen.

Prayer to St. Margaret of Cortona

Dear St. Margaret of Cortona,

You were a woman of great conversion and devotion, turning away from a life of sin to a life of holiness and service to the poor. I ask for your intercession as I seek to grow in my own spiritual life and to help those in need.

May your example inspire me to be a person of deep compassion, unwavering faith, and selfless service to others.

Amen.

Prayer to St. Margaret of Cortona

St. Margaret of Cortona,

You were a woman of great courage and perseverance, facing many challenges and difficulties in your journey towards holiness. Help me to have the courage to persevere in my own spiritual journey, even in the face of adversity, and to always keep my eyes fixed on God.

May your devotion to the Lord and your love for his people fill me with the strength and wisdom I need to be a faithful witness in a world that often seeks to undermine the truth.

Amen.

Prayer to St. Margaret of Cortona

O St. Margaret of Cortona,

You were a woman of great humility and love, always striving to serve others and to bring the light of Christ into the world. Help me to grow in my own humility and love, and to always seek to be a blessing to those around me.

May your example inspire me to be a person of deep faith, sincere devotion, and unwavering commitment to the Lord and his people.

Amen.

 

St. Margaret of Cortona: Patron Saint of the Homeless and Single Mothers

St. Margaret of Cortona is the patron saint of the homeless and single mothers. She was a 13th century Italian noblewoman who experienced a conversion to a life of poverty and devotion after the death of her lover.

St. Margaret of Cortona is recognized as the patron saint of the homeless due to her own experiences of poverty and homelessness after leaving her former life of luxury. She devoted herself to helping the poor and marginalized, using her own resources to provide food, clothing, and shelter to those in need. Through her acts of charity and her commitment to living a life of poverty and humility, she became a powerful symbol of hope and inspiration for those who are homeless or in need.

In addition to being the patron saint of the homeless, St. Margaret of Cortona is also recognized as the patron saint of single mothers. This is because of her own experiences as a single mother, raising her son after the death of her lover. She faced many challenges and obstacles, but she persevered with the help of her faith and her commitment to her son. Her example of courage, strength, and devotion continues to inspire single mothers and all those who face challenges in their lives.

St. Margaret of Cortona is remembered for her conversion to a life of poverty and devotion, her acts of charity and compassion, and her commitment to her son. She is revered as a powerful intercessor, and her intercession is sought for a variety of needs, including help for those who are homeless or in need, guidance and support for single mothers, and inspiration for all those who face challenges and difficulties in their lives.

 

Reflection on the feast day of St. Margaret of Cortona

The feast day of St. Margaret of Cortona is on February 22nd.

On the feast day of St. Margaret of Cortona, we celebrate the life and legacy of one of the great saints of the Church. St. Margaret of Cortona was a 13th-century Italian penitent, mystic, and member of the Third Order of Saint Francis. She is considered the patron saint of the falsely accused, loss of parents, single mothers, and travelers.

St. Margaret of Cortona’s life is a testament to the power of conversion and forgiveness. She lived a difficult life marked by poverty, sin and suffering, but through her encounter with God, she was able to turn her life around and become a model of holiness and charity. She dedicated her life to serving the poor and the marginalized, and her reputation for holiness and miracles spread throughout Italy.

St. Margaret of Cortona’s example teaches us the importance of repentance and forgiveness. She reminds us that no matter how far we may have strayed from the path of righteousness, it is never too late to turn back to God. She shows us that through humility, contrition, and a sincere desire for change, we can be forgiven and transformed.

St. Margaret of Cortona’s legacy also reminds us of the importance of charity and service to others. She dedicated her life to serving the poor and the marginalized, and her example teaches us that true happiness is found in giving of ourselves for the sake of others. She inspires us to see the face of Christ in the poor and to respond to their needs with love and compassion.

In conclusion, as we celebrate the feast day of St. Margaret of Cortona, let us remember the example of this great saint and her dedication to God. May we strive to follow her example, to seek repentance and forgiveness, and to deepen our relationship with God through charity, humility, and service to others.

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Also check out our handmade St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Medal and St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Rosary and St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Rosary Bracelet.