(A.D. 1297.)
[Leo X. allowed the festival of this saint to be celebrated in the
diocese of Cortona on Feb. 22nd. Urban VIII. extended this faculty
to all congregations of the Order of S. Francis, in 1623. She was
canonized by Benedict XIII., in 1728. She is mentioned by Ferrarius
in his Catalogue of the Saints of Italy, on this day, but, probably
on account of the coincidence of the day with the Chair of S. Peter,
the festival of S. Margaret is usually observed in the Franciscan
Order on the day following, Feb. 23rd. Authority:--A Life written by
Friar Juncta, her Confessor; but he trips lightly over her life
before her conversion, saying nothing concerning it but giving only
vague allusions. For fuller details we must go to some of the
writers on the Saints of the Franciscan Order, and to Ferrarius.]
Margaret was a girl of Alviano, in Tuscany. Her good looks attracted
the attention of a young nobleman, and, led astray by passion and love
of dress, she deserted her father's house, and followed her seducer
for nine years. One day he went out, followed by his dog,[64] and did
not return. Some days passed, and, at last, the dog appeared at the
door, and, plucking at Margaret's dress, drew her forwards, as though
it wished her to follow. She obeyed the animal, and it led her into
the wood, and began to scratch where dry leaves and sticks were thrown
over a sort of pit. She hastily uncovered the spot, and found the body
of her lover, who had been assassinated, frightfully decomposed. The
shock was great. She went sorrowfully to her father's house, but he
refused to admit his fallen daughter, urged thereto by her
step-mother. Then she sought the protection and guidance of the
Minorite friars at Cortona, and, after two years, she entered the
third order of S. Francis. Her director had now to restrain her
enthusiastic self-mortification. Knowing that it was her beauty which
had turned her head and led her astray, she wanted to cut off her nose
and lips, but was peremptorily forbidden by her confessor. Then she
desired to make public confession in Cortona of all her iniquities,
but was also forbidden this. She, however, went, one Sunday, to her
native village, with a halter round her neck, and, casting herself
down before all the congregation, expressed her deep sorrow for the
scandal she had caused there. Her conversion took place in 1274, when
she was aged twenty-five. The rest of her life was spent in penance
for her sin. At length, worn out by her austerities, she died on the
22nd February, 1297, in the forty-eighth year of her age.
[Illustration: S. MARGARET CORTONA. From Cahier. Feb. 22.]
Her body is preserved at Cortona.
In art, she appears contemplating a corpse, or more often a skull at
her feet, whilst a dog plucks at her robe.
[63] Apparently a vulgar expression used at the period to mean, "All
but a mere trifle."
[64] _Catella_ is the word in Ferrarius; in art it is a dog.
[Illustration: The Bookbinder.]
February 23.
S. MARTHA, _V. M. at Astorga, in Spain_, A.D. 251.
S. PRIAMIAN, _B. M. at Ancona_.
S. POLYCARP, _P. C. at Rome, circ._ A.D. 300.
S. ROMANA, _V. at Rome, circ._ A.D. 324.
S. SERENUS, _M. at Sirmisch, in Hungary, circ._ A.D. 327.
S. PRIAMIANUS, _B. M. at Ancona_.
SS. ZEBINAS, POLYCHRONIUS, MOSES, AND DAMIAN, _HH. in Syria, 5th cent._
S. DOSITHEUS, _Monk in Palestine, circ._ A.D. 530.
S. FELIX, _B. of Brescia, circ._ A.D. 652.
S. EARCONGOTHA, _V. Abss. at Faremoutier, end of 7th cent._
S. MILBURGH, _V. Abss. of Wenlock in Shropshire, 7th cent._
S. LAZARUS, Monk at Constantinople, circ. A.D. 870.
S. CELSUS, _B. of Trèves, circ._ A.D. 980.
B. PETER DAMIANI, _Card. B. of Ostia_, A.D. 1072.