St Margaret of Cortona

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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 founded a hospital in Cortona for the homeless and suffering, and organized a group of tertiary sisters known as Le Poverelle (“The Little Poor Ones”), devoted to works of mercy. Though remembered for her intense asceticism and mystical experiences, Margaret’s sanctity was not withdrawn from the world; rather, it was expressed through compassion, service, and a profound identification with those cast aside by society. Continue reading after advertisement

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Margaret eventually withdrew into a more contemplative life among the ruins of a small church dedicated to Saint Basil, where she spent her final years in prayer and solitude. Yet even there, people sought her counsel, drawn by her reputation for holiness and spiritual wisdom. She was known to challenge corruption openly, even confronting powerful political and ecclesiastical figures when she believed justice or Christian integrity were at stake. Upon her death in 1297, the people of Cortona immediately venerated her as a saint, though official canonization would not come until 1728 under Pope Benedict XIII. Continue reading after advertisement

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Today, Saint Margaret of Cortona is honored as the patroness of penitents, the homeless, single mothers, the mentally ill, and those rejected or marginalized by society. Her life remains one of the most moving examples of conversion in Christian spirituality: a journey from woundedness and instability toward mercy, humility, and radical love. In the Franciscan tradition, she stands as a witness that sanctity is not reserved for the flawless, but can emerge precisely from repentance, perseverance, and the healing grace of God.

Get 3 restored images of St. Margaret (including the one featured in this post), now on sale

This image is a public domain image, which means either that copyright has expired in the image or the copyright holder has waived their copyright. Franciscan Gallery charges for the access to high resolution copy of the image. Manually restoration was necessary in order to improve quality, without covering the original image.