Sexual temptation
Margaret of Cortona was born in Loviana, Tuscany, in 1247. Her mother died when she was seven and her father, a farmer, remarried. Margaret’s stepmother did not pay her much attention and she felt unloved.
Margaret eventually eloped with a young man and conceived a child out of wedlock. Nine years later her lover was murdered.
Margaret returned home penitent, but her father refused to accept her and her illegitimate son. She sought refuge with the Friars Minor at Cortona. As a result of her constant struggle with sexual temptation she attempted to mutilate her face but was restrained by a friar named Giunta.
Margaret earned a living through nursing sick women but later gave this up to nurse the poor for no pay. Eventually she joined the Third Order of St Francis and her son joined the Franciscans.
Margaret dedicated her life to prayer and claimed to be in direct contact with Jesus, experiencing frequent ecstasies and receiving personal messages from him.
The ‘Poor Ones’
In 1286 Margaret was given a charter to work with the sick and poor on a permanent basis and she received help and financial support from others. She formed her group into tertiaries and later they were given the status of a congregation under the name Poverelle, meaning “Poor Ones”.
She founded a hospital at Cortona, as well as the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mercy.
Death foretold
While Margaret was in Cortona some people opposed her and accused her of improper relations with Friar Giunta, but she persisted in preaching against vice.
Her example inspired many to return to the sacraments. She also showed exceptional love for the mysteries of the Eucharist and Our Lord’s Passion on the Cross.
She reputedly received a divine warning about the timing of her death, which was on February 22, 1297. She was canonised in 1728.
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