Cortona, Italy: Sanctuary of Saint Margaret of Cortona
About Saint Margaret of Cortona (1247-1297):
An example of one who transformed herself from sinner to saint, Margaret was born of farming parents in Laviano, Tuscany. Her mother died when Margaret was seven; life with her stepmother was so difficult that Margaret moved out. For nine years she lived with a man named Arsenio, and though they were not married, she bore him a son. In those years, she had doubts about her situation. Somewhat like Saint Augustine, she prayed for purity—but not just yet.
One day she was waiting for Arsenio and was instead met by his dog. The animal led Margaret into the forest where she found Arsenio murdered. This crime shocked Margaret into a life of penance. She and her son returned to Laviano, where she was not well received by her stepmother. They then went to Cortona, where her son eventually became a friar.
With only God to depend upon, she went to Cortona with her son where they were offered shelter by two women. She later tended to the sick and poor of Cortona, while her son eventually took vows as a Franciscan monk.
In 1277, three years after her conversion, Margaret became a Franciscan tertiary. Under the direction of her confessor, who sometimes had to order her to moderate her self-denial, she pursued a life of prayer and penance at Cortona. There she established a hospital and founded a congregation of tertiary sisters. Margaret was, like Francis, devoted to the Eucharist and to the passion of Jesus. These devotions fueled her great charity and drew sinners to her for advice and inspiration.
She was canonized in 1728. St. Margaret of Cortona’s liturgical feast is celebrated on February 22.
Margaret became an example of God’s forgiveness and although there were later rumors criticizing her, she was graced with visions from Christ. She was known by her fellow friars as “the Franciscan Mary Magdalene”.
Her Feast Day is celebrated on May 16. It was originally celebrated on February 22…the date of her death; however, it was moved to May 16 due to the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter of Antioch being on February 22. Note: Many sites still claim that her feast day is February 22….but our research does not back that up.
Cortona is one of the many hill towns in Tuscany, notable for their natural beauty.
About the convent in Cortona:
In the church of Santa Margherita you can view the incorrupt body of Saint Margaret of Cortona. hundreds of reports of miracles, both physical and spiritual, were reported by those who came here to adore her.
You may also wish to visit the Franciscan convent that contains the cell where Saint Francis slept (on a stone bed) when he came here to preach in 1211. It is about a 45 minute walk from the Church and also has a small gift shop. It is a beautiful place to pray and meditate.
Traveling to Cortona:
You can reach Cortona by train from Florence, Rome or other cities.
You take the train as far as Comucia-Cortona and then you can take a bus from the station to the town itself. Get train & bus schedules, see fares & buy tickets here.
Of course it is easily reachable by car as well.
Address: Piazza Santa Margherita, Cortona AR, Italy
GPS coordinates: 43° 16′ 28.9668” N, 11° 59′ 33.7920” E
Click here for the Diocesan website link
Click here for the Cortona Tourism website link
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