SAINT OF THE DAY -- May 16 - Saint Margaret of Cortona
May 16
St. Margaret of Cortona(1247-1297)
Patron Saint of
Single Mothers, Homeless, Falsely Accused and Mentally Ill
Today, the body of St. Margaret lies uncorrupted at the church in Cortona, Italy.
Margaret was born of farming parents in Laviano, Tuscany. Her mother
died when Margaret was seven; life with her stepmother was so difficult
that Margaret moved out. For nine years she lived with Arsenio, though
they were not married, and she bore him a son. In those years, she had
doubts about her situation. Somewhat like St. Augustine she prayed for
purity—but not just yet.
One
day she was waiting for Arsenio and was instead met by his dog. The
animal led Margaret into the forest where she found Arsenio murdered.
This crime shocked Margaret into a life of penance. She and her son
returned to Laviano, where she was not well received by her stepmother.
They then went to Cortona, where her son eventually became a friar.
In
1277, three years after her conversion, Margaret became a Franciscan
tertiary. Under the direction of her confessor, who sometimes had to
order her to moderate her self-denial, she pursued a life of prayer and
penance at Cortona. There she established a hospital and founded a
congregation of tertiary sisters. The poor and humble Margaret was,
like Francis, devoted to the Eucharist and to the passion of Jesus.
These devotions fueled her great charity and drew sinners to her for
advice and inspiration. She was canonized in 1728.
She was a 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.
Comment:
Seeking
forgiveness is sometimes difficult work. It is made easier by meeting
people who, without trivializing our sins, assure us that God rejoices
over our repentance. Being forgiven lifts a weight and prompts us to
acts of charity.
Quote:"Let us
raise ourselves from our fall and not give up hope as long as we free
ourselves from sin. Jesus Christ came into this world to save sinners.
‘O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the LORD, our
Maker!’ (Psalm 95:6). The Word calls us to repentance, crying out:
‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens and
I will give you rest’ (Matthew 11:28). There is, then, a way to
salvation if we are willing to follow it" (Letter of Saint Basil the Great).
Prayer:
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.
Source: American Catholic Organization
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Miracles continue to the present day.
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If you are a victim of domestic or sexual violence, please know that my husband and I pray for you every single night.
If you need immediate assistance, dial 911.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline:
1-800-799-SAFE OR (1-800-799-7233)
SIGNS OF AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP
Do you:
feel afraid of your partner much of the time?
avoid certain topics fear of angering your partner?
feel that you can’t do anything right for your partner?
believe that you deserve to be hurt or mistreated?
wonder if you’re the one who is crazy?
feel emotionally numb or helpless?
Does your partner:
- humiliate, criticize, or yell at you?
- treat you so badly that you’re embarrassed for your friends or family to see?
- ignore or put down your opinions or accomplishments?
- blame you for his own abusive behavior?
- see you as property or a sex object, rather than as a person?
Does your partner:
have a bad and unpredictable temper?
hurt you, or threaten to hurt or kill you?
threaten to take your children away or harm them?
threaten to commit suicide if you leave?
force you to have sex?
destroy your belongings?
Does your partner:
- act excessively jealous and possessive?
- control where you go or what you do?
- keep you from seeing your friends or family?
- limit your access to money, the phone, or the car?
- constantly check up on you?