St
Margaret of Cortona
1247-1297
Feast Day May 16
Patron of mental
illness, temptation, and those falsely accused
Let us
ask St Margaret to help us refrain from judgment of others so that we are not
found guilty of false accusations. Let us pray that we and our beloved
prodigals may be given the strength to fight and withstand temptation. May those
among us who suffer from mental stress and sickness be comforted and receive
help.
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Who
was Saint Margaret of Cortona?
Margaret's mother died when she was
seven. Her stepmother was not fond of her. As a young woman
Margaret ran off with a young man, gave birth to his son and lived as his
mistress. When he was murdered, Margaret believed it a sign from God.
She publicly confessed her sin. She and her child found a home with
the Friars Minor at Cortona. Margaret was often tempted but continued to
strive to amend her life.
She accepted the task of caring for the sick and the poor,
eventually living only on alms. She became a Franciscan tertiary (third
order Franciscan) and developed a deep prayer life.
She drew others into her life of prayer and, with their help,
started a hospital. She had great devotion to the Eucharist.
Although she spent her life helping the poor and the sice,
she remained the target of gossips who continued to speak of her earlier
days throughout her entire life.
Writings about St Margaret
They buried her in the
church of St. Basil in Cortona. Around her body, and later at her tomb, her
confessor tells us that so many miracles, physical and spiritual, were worked
that he could fill a volume with the record of those which he personally knew
alone. And today Cortona boasts of nothing more sacred or more treasured than
that same body, which lies there still incorrupt, after more than six centuries.
~Excerpt from Saints
for Sinners
by Alban Goodier, S.J.
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Prayer to
Saint Margaret
by Pope John Paul II
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.
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
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