Saint Margaret of Cortona
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Our Saint began her life on earth in the Thirteenth Century. Let us go back to that time, to a little farmhouse in Laviano, in the province of Tuscany. There was a flurry in the quiet kitchen. Dusk had no sooner settled into night when dawn was desperately trying to break through. Water was boiling; the mid-wife was there to assist the bringing into the world of a new life. It was a girl! The pain of childbirth soon disappeared, as the mother held her new baby in her arms. We can just picture Baby Margaret’s eyes opening to this new world outside of her mother’s womb. Did you cry, Margaret? I wonder if babies cry upon leaving the security of their mother’s womb because they have been whacked on the bottom, or are they whacked as a reminder of what life has in store for them?I have always been affirmed by loved-ones, maybe that’s why the vision of a Loving Father in Heaven is so easy for me to accept. I have always believed that God loved me. My parents showed their love in word and deed. They always made me feel special. My father said that I was the only one of his children that did not cause my mother pain when she gave birth. I do not know what that means, but maybe that’s one of the reasons that I tried never to hurt my parents. Do we call our children by loving names, affirming complementing them, telling them how very beautiful they are? We cannot tell you how many wounded adults, children in grown-up bodies, are scarred because their parents did not affirm them.Margaret was born in the region of Italy that has always been known as the haughty part of the boot. The citizens of Tuscany pride themselves as being descendants of the ancient Etruscan tribe, which is purported to having entered this region from the Far East over 5000 years ago. They have always been a proud people! This will be important to remember, as our story progresses. Although life started simply enough for Margaret, her father putting bread on the table by farming, her mother showering little Margaret with love and attention, this was to come to a cruel end, when at age seven her mother died, suddenly. The woman who came to take her mother’s place was as hard and stern, as her natural mother had been loving and compassionate, patient and understanding. Margaret was starved for love; her father, fearing angry reprisal from his new demanding wife, turned his back on Margaret, agreeing with her step-mother that she was worthless and would amount to no good. Now, Margaret grew into a most beautiful young woman, full of life. But there was an emptiness. She hungered for love and acceptance; so just imagine when a handsome young lord spotted her and persistently courted her, flattering her, promising her marriage, how trusting she was, maybe too anxious to be number one in someone’s life. Whatever the attraction or the reason, the young man swept her off her feet and carried her off to his castle. Marriage never came. She was faithful to him. He, on his part showed his love by showering her with everything but what she desired most - marriage. She rode through town on the finest horse, sporting superb finery. Now, this was just what the town gossips needed; here was an ideal opportunity to throw mud at her reputation. In their sickness of soul, did they think that perhaps by tearing her down they could gain some of the self worth they were possibly longing for? Margaret never stopped pleading with her young lover to marry her. She gave the young lord a son. She never stopped loving him. Although he was faithful to her, looking at no one but her, he never would consent to marry her, even after their child was born. At heart, she was a good girl and her state of life pained her. She knew that this was displeasing to God and she loved Him even then, but her need of love on earth kept her from choosing God to the exclusion of all else. This was all to change.One day, her young lord went off to inspect his estates; when night came and he had not returned, she became worried. The next day, she and her little boy waited anxiously, but there was no sign of him. When night came and he had still not returned, she became alarmed; this was not like him. Suddenly she saw something running through the woods toward the castle. It was the dog who had accompanied her lord. He scratched on the door; after she let him in, he began pulling at her dress, desperately trying to get her to follow him. When they reached a tree, the dog stopped and started to dig. Imagine her grief, when she saw the mangled body of her lover. He had been assassinated and buried under the tree, his murderers confident no one would find him. Margaret took this as a sign the Lord was angry, and she was experiencing some of God’s Justice. She gave everything the lord had given to her, to his family and to the poor, many of whom had scorned her. Taking nothing for herself and her son, they left Montepulciano for her father’s home. She entered the little town of her birth, not on a fine steed, adorned in the fine clothes and jewels of the past, but donned in the most humble clothes of a penitent.Her father and stepmother, true to form, would have nothing to do with her or the little child. Penniless, with no where to turn, she left the town of her birth, desolate, despondent and all alone. Was it her Guardian Angel who reminded her of the Franciscans in Cortona who were well known for their outreach and compassion toward penitents? When she arrived in Cortona, she was noticed by two sisters, who, seeing her alone with her little boy, befriended her and gave them a place in their home. They brought Margaret to the Franciscans and two of the Friars began to provide Margaret with Spiritual Direction.Margaret asked permission to return to Montepulciano, to the villagers she judged she had scandalized by her former life. Her spiritual directors said Yes, and she set out. Arriving in town, dressed as a penitent, she processed through the streets, pleading for their forgiveness. That accomplished, she asked permission from the Friars to go to the town of her birth, and confess to all the villagers with whom she had grown up. They said no, judging it would not be prudent at that time to do so. For more information about Saint Margaret of Cortona Click here
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