St. Margaret of Cortona
Feb 22
Patron Saint of the Falsely Accused, Hoboes, Homeless, Orphaned, Mentally Ill, Midwives, Penitents, Single Mothers, Reformed Prostitutes, Stepchildren, and Tramps
Margaret was born in Laviano, a little town in Tuscany, to a farmer and his wife. When she was only seven, her mother died and her father remarried a hard and difficult woman, who spared no great love for the free-spirited girl.
Margaret ran away with a rich young man. For nine years she lived in sin, and during that time bore him a son. Her immoral relationship caused great scandal, and Margaret strove to convince him of marriage, but to no avail.
One day, the man took his dog and went riding. When he did not return, Margaret became anxious. After some time, his dog returned and led her to a forest. There Margaret found the broken body of her lover, dead for some days, and took it as a sign from God to amend her life.