Margaret of Cortona

About Margaret of Cortona

Margaret of Cortona was a Franciscan tertiary and penitent whose dramatic conversion from a sinful life led to extreme holiness. After her mother's death, Margaret had difficult relations with her stepmother. At age 16, she became the mistress of a nobleman from Montepulciano, living with him for nine years and bearing him a son. When her lover was murdered (his dog led her to his body in the forest), Margaret experienced radical conversion and deep repentance. Rejected by her father, she went to Cortona where Franciscan friars helped her. Margaret lived in extreme penance for her past, practicing severe mortification and fasting. She cared for the sick poor with great love, establishing a hospital and founding a religious confraternity. Margaret experienced frequent mystical visions and conversations with Christ, who called her "poverella" (poor little one) and "My third light" (after Francis and Anthony). Her son became a Franciscan friar. Despite temptations to return to her former life and doubts about her unworthiness, Margaret persevered. She died in 1297 and was canonized in 1728. She represents the penitent sinner transformed by grace into a great saint.