St Margaret of Cortona
Español St. Margaret, by Jacopo Alessandro Calvi Saint Margaret of Cortona (1247–1297) was one of the most remarkable penitents of the Franciscan tradition. Born into a humble farming family near Perugia, her early life was marked by instability and sorrow. After the death of her mother, Margaret struggled in her relationship with her stepmother, and as a young woman she fled with a nobleman, living for nearly a decade as his companion and bearing him a son. Her life changed dramatically when the man was murdered, his body discovered after his dog led Margaret into the forest. Shocked by the tragedy and overcome with remorse, she abandoned her former life, gave away her possessions, and sought refuge among the Franciscans of Cortona. Received into the Third Order of Saint Francis in 1277, Margaret embraced a life of radical penance, prayer, and charity. Inspired by the example of Saint Francis of Assisi, she dedicated herself to caring for the poor, the sick, and the abandoned. She fou...
