Feast Day of Saint Margaret of Cortona

IMPORTANT FACTS:

Margaret was by nature one of those women who thirst for affection,in whom to be loved is the main need of their lives.She needed to be loved that her soul might be free,and in her home she found not what she wanted.She indeed was a Hopeless Soul.Margaret records that she was taught by her mother a prayer she never forgot: "O Lord Jesus, I beseech thee, grant salvation to all those for whom thou wouldst have me pray."There were times during her stay with her lover,she realise her wrong doings.She did try to run and she told some of her friends about her ideas but they would warn her of the risk she was running; but Margaret,would laugh at their warnings and tell them that some day she would be a SAINT.

After years of conversion,the old desires were upon her;they had effected her severely and could not at once be removed;even to the end of her life she had reason to fear her desires.Sometimes she would ask herself how long she could continue the fight;sometimes she felt maybe should stop her severe penance,
and live her life like ordinary people but she somehow persevered in prayer.She asked Jesus to help her continue what she started rather than give up for she knew the Lord fell 3 times on His way to Cavalry but never gave up carrying His cross.This thought always brought comfort to her.
Margaret did wonder why her life was miserable but Jesus said told her later in her life:
"I have put thee as a burning light,to enlighten those who sit in the darkness.I have set thee as an example to sinners,that in thee they may behold how my mercy awaits the sinner who is willing to repent;for as I have been merciful to thee,so will I be merciful to them." 

Margaret to the end was very human; she was the same Margaret,however pure,she still had great temptations alluring her.She said to her confessor,"My father,do not ask me to give in to this body of mine. I cannot afford it.Between me and my body there must needs be a struggle until death."
She knew she could never live a normal life and penance was all she could do to keep her mind on Jesus.

Her confessor tells us that one day,shortly before her death,she had a vision of St. Mary Magdalene, "most faithful of Christ's apostles, clothed in a robe as it were of silver, and crowned with a crown of precious gems,and surrounded by the holy angels."It was said that the vision was letting Margaret know that she deserved to share the same glory as St.Mary Magdalene had in Heaven.Finally after death,her soul was raised high to Sainthood immediately but was not officially canonized until 1728.She was canonized on May 16,1728 by Pope Benedict XIII and her body was blessed by God,until today it has been incorrupted.The Church celebrates his feast day on February 22nd.

Quote of Saint Margaret :

• The Spouse Eternal is exceeding jealous...He watches attentively over the souls He has created. Actions which we think virtuous are to His eyes impregnated with hidden vice; and hence it happens for those actions, from which we hope to obtain a reward, we frequently deserve everlasting punishment.
• In times of desolation, God conceals Himself from us so that we can discover for ourselves what we are without Him.
• Hide nothing from your confessor... a sick man can be cured only by revealing his wounds.

PRAYER TO SAINT MARGARET :
O Pure Saint Margaret,you who fought daily with impure temptations and did give up hope at times but never abandon your prayers;pray for us.We need your prayers to secure eternal life;for the life here on earth is filled with impureness and temptations.During the time of temptations,intercede fervently for us to never lose our hope in God and to preserve in prayer.May we not seek to go back to our old ways but may we always seek to move forward with Jesus,just like you did.Amen.
Saint Margaret,Virgin of the Lamb,guide us to the mercy of Jesus!