Margaret of Cortona

Margaret of Cortona (1247 – 22 February 1297) was an Italian penitent and a member of the Third Order of Saint Francis, renowned for her dramatic conversion and subsequent life of intense prayer, penance, and charitable work. Her life story, marked by a scandalous beginning and a profound spiritual transformation, has made her a significant figure in Catholic tradition.

Life and historical context

Born in Laviano, near Perugia, Margaret's early life was shaped by the death of her mother and a strained relationship with her stepmother. As a young woman, she became known for her wilful nature. At seventeen, she eloped with a knight and lived with him for nine years as his mistress, bearing him a son. This period of her life ended abruptly when she discovered her lover murdered. This traumatic event triggered a deep spiritual crisis and a fervent desire for penance.

Margaret renounced her past life, returning her worldly goods to her lover's family and seeking refuge with her father. When her father, influenced by her stepmother, refused her shelter, she turned to the Franciscan friars in Cortona for help. She and her son found lodging with two women, and her son was sent to school. Margaret herself embarked on a path of vivid public penance, undertaking extreme mortifications.

Major contributions

Animated by the example of Francis of Assisi, Margaret dedicated herself to serving the poor and sick. In 1277, after a period of probation, she was accepted into the Third Order of Saint Francis. Her devotion deepened into a close mystical communion with Christ. She was instrumental in establishing a hospital for the sick, homeless, and impoverished in Cortona. To support this work and care for the imprisoned, she founded a congregation of Tertiary Sisters known as 'Le poverelle' (Little poor ones).

Margaret also established a confraternity devoted to Our Lady of Mercy, which provided financial support for the hospital and aid to the needy. As her reputation for sanctity grew, penitents began to seek her counsel. She also engaged in matters of local politics, seeking reconciliation between feuding families and intervening in disputes with the Bishop of Arezzo.

Legacy

Margaret of Cortona died on February 22, 1297, and was immediately acclaimed as a saint. Her body was exhumed in 1456 and found to be incorrupt, and has since been housed in the Basilica of Santa Margherita in Cortona. She was officially canonized by Pope Benedict XIII on May 16, 1728. Margaret is venerated as the patroness of various groups, including reformed prostitutes, the falsely accused, the homeless, and single mothers. Her feast day is celebrated on February 22.