February 20, 2014 St. Margaret of Cortona A penitent of the Third Order of St. Francis, born at Laviano in Tuscany in 1247; died at Cortona, 22 February, 1297. On February 22 of this year, we honor the 725th anniversary of the passing of St. Margaret of Cortona, a woman who turned a life of lust and desperation into one dedicated to the Lord. Fr. (London, 1906). To all she repeated the way of salvation is easy: its enough to love.. St. Margaret of Cortona - St. Mary's Basilica Santa Margherita da Cortona - Cortona Mia Like St. Angela of Foligno, Margaret lived an early life of decadence and. The site was entirely renovated in 1969. Margaret had a great devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. Margarets fame soon spread from Cortona and Tuscany to all parts of Italy and even to France and Spain. Copyright Aleteia SAS all rights reserved. Jesus also told her in a vision: If Francis was the first luminary of the Seraphic Order and Clare the second, you will be the third. Thus Margaret is the model of penitent love, like the saint of Assisi is a model of apostolic life and St. Clare of virginity. Margaret in her confessions does not mention her lover's name. Tags: birth year 1247 death day 22 death month february death year 1297 italian. Cuthbert) pdf, text, kindle format, St. Margaret of Cortona: The Magdalen of the Seraphic Order (Fr. After having confessed, with great remorse, all her sins to Fr. Basil. Her designation as patron saint of expectant mothers (particularly in difficult labour) and her emblem, a dragon, are based on one of her trials: Satan, disguised as a dragon, swallowed Margaret; his stomach, however, soon rejecting her, opened, and let her out unharmed. One day before the novena was finished, Margaret appeared, radiant and dressed in her habit of the Third Order, to the priest and all the assembled Indians, promising to give a recompense for his zeal in promoting her glory. St Margaret of Cortona is a circa 1758 painting by the Italian late-Baroque painter Gaspare Traversi. Margaret was born from farming parents, in Laviano (between Trasimeno lake and Montepulciano). Now, her body in incorrupt and preserved over the altar of the church that now bears her name in Cortona. The job is very difficult and causes me great pain but I have no choice. Giunta Bevegnati of the Franciscan friars, a venerable priest known for his doctrine and holiness. Seeing it as a great opportunity to escape her circumstances, Margaret accompanied him to Montepulciano. Beneath the pile, lying in a shallow pit, she found Arsenio, dead and decaying. The people went to Margarets tomb to implore her intercession and help, promising to build a new and larger sanctuary in her honor. As an adolescent, she ran away and lived out of wedlock with a young. An English version of the greater part of the "Legend", with an introductory essay, has been published by Fr. A barons son might have a peasant as his mistress, but he could not marry her. The Oratory of St. On her arrival at Cortona, two ladies, noticing her loneliness, offered her assistance and took her home with them. She returned to his relatives all the jewels and property he had given her and left his home; and with her little son set out for her father's house. October 1, 1910. Eventually the complex was occupied by the Capuchin Friars. History & curiosities, What to do this February in Cortona, Italy (2019), Saint Margaret, saint patron of Cortona and the festivity. Saint of the Day - 22 February - St Margaret of Cortona TOSF (1247-1297) Penitent, Franciscan Tertiary, Mystic, Apostle of Charity, Founder of a charitable Lay Apostolate and an Order of Sisters - born in 1247 at Loviano, Tuscany, Italy and died on 22 February 1297 at Cortona, Italy of natural causes. Remy Lafort, Censor. Bevegnati authorized her to receive Holy Communion daily. He didnt have the strength to oppose his wife, and Margaret, desolated and destitute, had to leave. Even as she strove to live in holiness, Margaret was haunted by the memory of her past life, spurred by guilt to adopt extreme ascetic measures: she slept on the cold naked ground, wore clothes so rough that she bled, and ate a diet solely of vegetables and bread. Imprimatur. In 1277, she officially joined the Third Order of Saint Francis. Her patronage is said to include single mothers, stepchildren, and the homeless, among others. Bernard Bangley. There she died on February 22, 1297 at the age of 49, and her body was interred in the same church. She was canonized in 1728. The priests suggested that Margaret devote herself to good works, so she served as nurse to the poor in Cortona. St. Margaret of Cortona | HolyFamilyOnline.com The direct trains from Florence (Santa Maria Novella station) take about 1h 20 min to Camucia-Cortona (and 10 min longer to Terontola-Cortona) and are also frequent throughout the day. The year previous to this, Margaret for the sake of greater quiet had removed her lodging from the hospital she had founded to near the ruined church of St. Cortona, Italy, Feb. 22, 1297. Butlers Lives of Saints,ed. St Margaret of Cortona (Gaspare Traversi) - Wikipedia Our Lord told her that she would die in Cortona and that He would grant the town a special privilege that would make it famous in all corners of the world (referring, most likely, to her incorrupt body). The oratory of St. Initially, it was composed of a small cluster of primitive cells for strict penance and meditation. +John M. Farley, Archbishop of New York. St. Margaret of Cortona - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online It was then that the faith of her childhood came back alive, and Margaret decided at once to henceforth live to expiate her great sins. Read my article about her festivity in February here, Hi, My name is Margarita Duran,a Filipino by birth. But after her death it was rebuilt in more magnificent style and dedicated in her own name. Are you curious about her story and how she became a saint? Being forgiven lifts a weight and prompts us to acts of charity. Margaret embraced a new life of self-discipline that included fasting, penance, and service to the poor. Membership, Outreach, & Development Committee Co-Chairs, Publications Coordinator and Newsletter Editor. Yet her stepmother still held power over his mind, and at her urging, he turned Margaret away. For nearly a decade, she lived with him as his mistress, basking in the opulence of glittering jewels and finery. Due to my so much curiosity about this Cortona Saint, St. Margarets remarkable story of redemption demonstrates the radically transformative power of Christ, reminding us how He can use anyone for His divine purpose. Her father, whom she implored forgiveness, would have let her stay in his home if it was not for the stern refusal of his wife. Bevegnati, narrate many of these miracles. // Her son became a Franciscan friar. You can also take a train from Rome (Termini or Tiburtina stations) to get to Cortona in approx. Her father would have received her, but his wife refused, and Margaret and her son were turned adrift. Saint Margaret of Cortona Biography Saint Margaret of Cortona was a farmer's daughter. St. Margaret of Cortona - Encyclopedia Volume - Catholic Online These assaults of the devil lasted for the remainder of her life; the greater the graces God lavished on her, the stronger and more vicious was the hatred and persecution of Satan. A penitent of the Third Order of St. Francis, born at Laviano in Tuscany in 1247; died at Cortona, 22 February, 1297. 1758 Not on view Traversi is known primarily for his lively, sometimes bawdy genre scenes, but here he lends quiet grace to representing Margaret of Cortona, a thirteenth-century nun canonized during the artist's lifetime, in 1728. The most significant places and episodes of his life still bear the traces of his presence today. Her biographers, including Fr. As Margaret followed the dog outside she felt a terrible sense of dread. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Cuthbert, O.S.F.C. Saint Margaret of Cortona - Saint of the Day - February 22, May 6 In the church of Santa Margherita, visitors can see the incorrupt body of St. Margaret of Cortona. For instance, in 1745, a missionary who had worked in Peru declared and swore to the following miraculous appearance of Margaret to his fellow missionary priest who, devoted to the penitent of Cortona, was just praying a novena to her. Her body lies incorrupt in a silver casket inside The Basilica of St. Margaret of Cortona. Margaret accepted. Escaping home Margaret was born into a farming family in the small village of Laviano in the diocese of Chiusi, Italy. In order to receive Jesus into as pure and loving a heart as possible, she was preparing for Communion from midnight with meditations. She was publically proclaimed a saint on the day of her death, and the people of Cortona built a church in her honor. Both are radically wrong. He also gave her the gift of discernment of souls, of prophecy, and of miracles. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. I want you to be a light for those sitting in the darkness of vice; I want the example of your conversion to preach hope to desperate sinners and be for the repentant ones like the morning dew for the plants exhausted by the heat of the sun; I want, lastly, that coming centuries be convinced that I am always willing to open the arms of my mercy to the prodigal son who, sincerely and with all his heart, returns to me. , The following day Margaret experienced her first public ecstasy. Your email address will not be published. She points to us the Tabernacle and invites us to go to Him Who is love and life Himself, in all our sufferings, difficulties and battles, to become strengthened by the source of all grace and virtue, the very heaven on earth. The Third Order of St. Francis had by then, less than 50 years after his death, spread to every part of Europe. In 1226, shortly before his death, he was here with Brother Elia. From that time onward, Margaret lived in strict poverty. She replied that they need have no fear of her, for that she would die a saint and that her critics would come as pilgrims to her shrine. Margaret of Cortona - Facts, Bio, Favorites, Info, Family | Sticky Facts She returned to his relatives all the jewels and property her lover had given her and left his palace. The church soon became too small to accommodate the pilgrims, and Cortona decided to build a new sanctuary in her honor, to house her precious relics. St. Margaret of Antioch, also called St. Marina, (flourished 3rd or 4th century, Antioch, Syria; Eastern feast day July 13; Western feast day July 20), virgin martyr and one of the 14 Holy Helpers (a group of saints jointly commemorated on August 8), who was one of the most venerated saints during the Middle Ages. Even during this period Margaret was very compassionate towards the poor and relieved their wants; she was also accustomed to seek out quiet places where she would dream of a life given to virtue and the love of God. Articles like these are sponsored free for every Catholic through the support of generous readers just like you. 4 km north of Cortona; daily from 7am to 7pm; SAINT MARGARET OF CORTONA THE SECOND MAGDALENE, Extraordinary graces and attacks by the enemy, Spiritual nuptials, visions, mystic crucifixion, Source of Margarets strength and perseverance, Veneration and canonization of the new Mary Magdalene. No one knows. Margaret was from the beginning imploring the Friars to let her become a Franciscan tertiary. Toward the end of her life, Margaret withdrew from her works, seeking solitude and prayer. She is the patron of the falsely accused, homeless people, the mentally ill, orphans, penitents, single mothers, and reformed prostitutes. Her remains have been honored with a public cultus from the very moment of her death. When she was seven Margaret's mother died. It is almost entirely taken up with her revelations, and was mainly dictated by Margaret herself, in obedience to her directors. She became such a skilled midwife that the women in labor insisted that no one but Margaret care for them. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Giunta Bevegnati) pdf, text, epub, kindle format, A Tuscan Penitent: The Life and Legend of St. Margaret of Cortona (Fr. Also in Cortona, not far from the Church of St. Margaret, is another important Franciscan church: Le Celle di Cortona the cells of Cortona. Nestled poignantly in a narrow valley, the striking Cells of Cortona offer an isolated place ideal for meditation and prayer. She lived on bread and water with some vegetables and fruit, wore a harsh cilice, and chastised her body with bloody disciplines, among many other penances and austerities. Hess, L. (1910). Margaret was born to a peasant family in the small town of Laviano on the border of Tuscany and Umbria near Lake Trasimeno. For ten years, she lived with him as his mistress near Montepulciano and bore him a son. Margaret never hesitated a moment before rejecting the temptations, only for the devil to return later tormenting her with blasphemies, impure images, or by telling her she was condemned to eternal fire. Seeing his corpse, Margaret understood at once the nothingness of life and the importance of life everlasting. Sound like a fairytale you know? Then Arsenios dog showed up alone. She felt tempted to an easier life by using her beauty. In 1897 a new edition of da Pelago's work, but without the dissertations, was published at Siena by Crivelli. Updates? In 1277, as she was praying in the Franciscan church, she heard the words: What is your wish, poverella (poor little one)? She replied: I neither seek nor wish for anything but You, my Lord Jesus. From that time forth she lived in intimate communion with Christ. The devil then launched the strongest temptations at the young woman, telling her she was young and beautiful and would find someone to love her and lavish the pleasures and luxuries of the world on her. St Margaret of Cortona (St Marguerite de Cortone) Feast Day - February 21 This Magdalen of the Franciscan Order, Saint Margaret of Cortona, came into the world in the year 1247 at Laviano near Cortona in the province of Tuscany. St. Margaret of Cortona died on 22 February 1297. It is published by the Bollandists in "Acta SS., mense Februarii, die 22". Franciscan hermitage approx. Thus He cut off with a single painful cut the golden chains of the disordered passions. Life of Saint Margaret of Cortona. Cuthbert), St. Margaret of Cortona: The Magdalen of the Seraphic Order (Fr. "St. Margaret of Cortona." At first He always addressed her as "poverella", and only after a time of probation and purification did He call her "My child". Dedicated to the Poor Souls in Purgatory. The editor of New Advent is Kevin Knight. She retired to a church outside the city gates run by Monks of the Order of St. She was at last set free from her life of sin by the tragic death of her lover, who was murdered whilst on a journey. Reflection Seeking forgiveness is sometimes difficult work. Suddenly it took her skirt in its mouth and, backing up, pulled her toward the door. church is part of the complex. The dogs behavior made Margaret nervous. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Her great physical vitality made such penance a necessity to her. Her feast day is February 22. For these reasons, she is a good role model for single mothers. She died on February 22, 1297. As Margaret began receiving these extraordinary graces from God, the devil also began assaulting her with force, appearing to her at times as an angel of light and at others as either himself or a horrid animal or even a fire-breathing dragon. February 22, 1297. . She lived with him in his castle close to Montepulciano and bore him a son; although she wanted to marry her lover, he refused. Ecclesiastical approbation. Use the link here to see the . Basil which Margaret, with the material help of the town of Cortona, brought back to life. In 1897 a new edition of da Pelago's work, but without the dissertations, was published at Siena by Crivelli. Acclaimed by the people as a saint, her body was translated to the church in a triumphal procession. Museo Diocesano, Cortona, Tags: catholic church, cortona, feast day, giovanni lanfranco, giuseppe maria crespi, italian art, margaret of cortona, S. Margherita da Cortona, saint margaret of cortona, saints, saints in art, St. Margaret of Cortona, Your email address will not be published. One day, while in prayer, Margaret heard the words, What is your wish, poverella? (little poor one?), and she replied, I neither seek nor wish for anything but You, my Lord Jesus.. there are buses that stop outside the train station and take you to Cortona in 10 minutes). Why Pray the St. Margaret of Cortona Novena? St. Margaret of Cortona. St. Margaret's patronage is quite extensive. The Church was later rebuilt in her honor (now Santa Margherita) and her body was preserved there in a silver casket. In her village Margarets good looks and quick wit attracted attention, especially the attention of older boys. Margaret's first intimation of his death was the return of his favourite hound without its master. Loathing her beauty which had led her and others into sin, she even wanted to cut her face but Fr. Are you curious about her story and how she became a saint? St. Margaret of Cortona, the Second Magdalene - Traditional Catholic She lived with him as his mistress in his castle in Montepulciano near Siena, and they had an illegitimate son together. "St. Margaret of Cortona.". She and Arsenio had lived in sin together for nine years and had never been sorry about what they were doing. From February 5 to 22 she didnt eat any food, living solely on the Eucharist which Fr. During this time, Margaret still felt lured to return to her old ways. During this time, she began experiencing revelations. The Friars let her wait for 3 years and, once certain that her change of life was lasting and that she would persevere, they clothed her in the habit of the Third Order in 1276. Not only that; her body has been, at times, known to exhale the most exquisite perfumes which have no equal among even the most aromatic substances of this earth. Seeing this, heartbroken, she offered herself to God as a victim of expiation. As a young woman, Margaret had made a bad decision, but she turned her life around, found a stable home for her child, found a career for herself, and found spiritual and emotional comfort from the Franciscans of Cortona. Her mother was a good and pious woman who taught the child the basics of religion, prayers, and a love of God. Moreover on several occasions Margaret intervened in public affairs for the seek of putting an end to civic feuds. He did not return on the day he was expected. . This left such an impression on the Indians that they too became devoted to her, invoking her in all their needs. One of the extraordinary graces God gave to Margaret was that of the spiritual nuptials. Basil above the city. and she replied: "I neither seek nor wish for aught but Thee, my Lord Jesus." After a solemn Mass the body was taken to the oratory of St. A rich young man said he loved her. [1] Description http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09653b.htm. But temptation only convinced her the more of the necessity of self-discipline and an entire consecration of herself to religion. Thus came true the prophecy of Margaret that, as it had taken care of her soul, the Seraphic Order would later, after some time had passed, take care of her mortal remains. Completely detached from all earthly things she now lived solely for Heaven. In 1969 Margarets feast day, formerly July 20, was eliminated in the revised calendar of the Roman Catholic Church because it is doubtful whether she ever existed. There her body remains enshrined to this day, incorrupt, in a silver shrine over the high-altar. Museo Diocesano, Cortona, Giovanni Lanfranco,Ecstasy of St. Margaret of Cortona, 1622, oil on canvas. [CDATA[ Following the example of St. Francis, she went and begged her bread. Margaret, her dark night having passed, was frequently favored with visions of Our Lord, and on occasion of saints and angels. var m_names=new Array("January","February","March","April","May","June","July","August","September","October","November","December");var d=new Date();var curr_day=d.getDay();var curr_date=d.getDate();var curr_month=d.getMonth();var curr_year=d.getFullYear();document.write("Retrieved "+m_names[curr_month]+" "+curr_date+", "+curr_year+" from New Advent: "); Meanwhile the bishops of Arezzo and Chiusi started to catalog Margarets virtues and miracles for a process of canonization. Unfortunately her mother died when Margaret was only 7, and the woman her widowed father married two years later was cold and cruel towards her step daughter. When she was about 14 years old she caught the eye of Arsenio, the 16-yearold son of the local baron; he invited Margaret to live at the castle as his mistress. But whilst thus living on alms, she gave her services freely to others; especially to the sick-poor whom she nursed. Margaret's first intimation of his death was the return of his favourite hound without its master. I made an effort to see her church and I am very gladI did it.I dont understand how she is link to my life ever since I was a little girl. She was divinely warned of the day and hour of her death and it came as foretold; she died on February 22, m1297.
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