St. Margaret of Cortona

St. Margaret of Cortona was born in 1247 in Laviano, Tuscany, to a family of farmers. Her early life was marked by hardship after her mother's death when Margaret was just seven years old. Her stepmother treated her poorly, leading Margaret to leave home at a young age. She lived with a nobleman, Arsenio, in Montepulciano for nearly a decade, during which she bore him a son out of wedlock, a scandalous act at the time. However, her life took a dramatic turn when Arsenio was brutally murdered. This event prompted Margaret to seek forgiveness and a new path. She returned to her father's home but was rejected by her stepmother, leading her to seek refuge with the Franciscan Friars in Cortona. There, she embarked on a life of prayer and penance, joining the Third Order of Saint Francis in 1277. Margaret dedicated herself to caring for the sick and poor, establishing a hospital and a congregation known as the Poverelle. Her devotion to charity and her mystical experiences earned her great respect. Margaret died on February 22, 1297, and was canonized in 1728 by Pope Benedict XIII, not in 1788 as previously stated. She is revered as the patron saint of the homeless, single mothers, and those seeking forgiveness, her legacy cemented through her tireless work and profound spiritual transformation.