About St. Margaret Cortona
St. Margaret of Cortona (1247–1297) – the ‘Second Magdalene’ of the Franciscans.
Born in a poor farming family in Tuscany, Italy, she lost her mother at age 7 and faced hardship with a harsh stepmother. In her youth, she ran away to live in sin with a nobleman, bearing a son out of wedlock. After 9 years, tragedy struck: her lover was murdered, shocking her into deep repentance. Rejected by her family, she sought refuge with the Franciscan friars in Cortona. There, under their guidance, she became a Third Order Franciscan tertiary in 1277. She lived a life of intense prayer, severe penance, and heroic charity — nursing the sick, founding a hospital, and establishing the ‘Poverelle’ (Poor Ones), a group of women dedicated to serving the needy. Despite temptations and false accusations, she grew in mystical union with Christ, receiving messages of mercy and offering spiritual guidance to many. She died on February 22, 1297 (her feast day), after 29 years of penance. Canonized in 1728, she’s the patron of penitents, single mothers, the falsely accused, and those battling sexual temptation. Her story reminds us: No sin is too great for God’s mercy. Through radical conversion and love for the Eucharist & Passion, she became a beacon of hope. Pray with her: ‘Lord, let me love You as You deserve!’
| Novena Begins: | February 13 |
| Feast Day: | February 22 |
Patron Saint of against temptations, falsely accused people, homeless
Day 1 – St. Margaret of Cortona Novena
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O glorious St. Margaret, you embarked on a life of penance and poverty after you repented of your sins. Jesus touched your heart, and after imposing on yourself a rigorous life of fasting, Jesus talked and conversed with you, revealing to you his merciful heart that rejoices whenever a sinner returns to him.
On controlling your appetite for food, you managed to free yourself from all temptations, including those of the flesh of which you were a victim for many years. Listen then to our petitions. May you bring our petitions to Jesus.
Amen
(Mention your request here…)
St. Margaret of Cortona, pray for us.
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…
Day 2 – St. Margaret of Cortona Novena
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O glorious St. Margaret, you embarked on a life of penance and poverty after you repented of your sins. Jesus touched your heart, and after imposing on yourself a rigorous life of fasting, Jesus talked and conversed with you, revealing to you his merciful heart that rejoices whenever a sinner returns to him.
On controlling your appetite for food, you managed to free yourself from all temptations, including those of the flesh of which you were a victim for many years. Listen then to our petitions. May you bring our petitions to Jesus.
Amen
(Mention your request here…)
St. Margaret of Cortona, pray for us.
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…
Day 3 – St. Margaret of Cortona Novena
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O glorious St. Margaret, you embarked on a life of penance and poverty after you repented of your sins. Jesus touched your heart, and after imposing on yourself a rigorous life of fasting, Jesus talked and conversed with you, revealing to you his merciful heart that rejoices whenever a sinner returns to him.
On controlling your appetite for food, you managed to free yourself from all temptations, including those of the flesh of which you were a victim for many years. Listen then to our petitions. May you bring our petitions to Jesus.
Amen
(Mention your request here…)
St. Margaret of Cortona, pray for us.
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…
Day 4 – St. Margaret of Cortona Novena
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O glorious St. Margaret, you embarked on a life of penance and poverty after you repented of your sins. Jesus touched your heart, and after imposing on yourself a rigorous life of fasting, Jesus talked and conversed with you, revealing to you his merciful heart that rejoices whenever a sinner returns to him.
On controlling your appetite for food, you managed to free yourself from all temptations, including those of the flesh of which you were a victim for many years. Listen then to our petitions. May you bring our petitions to Jesus.
Amen
(Mention your request here…)
St. Margaret of Cortona, pray for us.
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…
Day 5 – St. Margaret of Cortona Novena
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O glorious St. Margaret, you embarked on a life of penance and poverty after you repented of your sins. Jesus touched your heart, and after imposing on yourself a rigorous life of fasting, Jesus talked and conversed with you, revealing to you his merciful heart that rejoices whenever a sinner returns to him.
On controlling your appetite for food, you managed to free yourself from all temptations, including those of the flesh of which you were a victim for many years. Listen then to our petitions. May you bring our petitions to Jesus.
Amen
(Mention your request here…)
St. Margaret of Cortona, pray for us.
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…
Day 6 – St. Margaret of Cortona Novena
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O glorious St. Margaret, you embarked on a life of penance and poverty after you repented of your sins. Jesus touched your heart, and after imposing on yourself a rigorous life of fasting, Jesus talked and conversed with you, revealing to you his merciful heart that rejoices whenever a sinner returns to him.
On controlling your appetite for food, you managed to free yourself from all temptations, including those of the flesh of which you were a victim for many years. Listen then to our petitions. May you bring our petitions to Jesus.
Amen
(Mention your request here…)
St. Margaret of Cortona, pray for us.
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…
Day 7 – St. Margaret of Cortona Novena
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O glorious St. Margaret, you embarked on a life of penance and poverty after you repented of your sins. Jesus touched your heart, and after imposing on yourself a rigorous life of fasting, Jesus talked and conversed with you, revealing to you his merciful heart that rejoices whenever a sinner returns to him.
On controlling your appetite for food, you managed to free yourself from all temptations, including those of the flesh of which you were a victim for many years. Listen then to our petitions. May you bring our petitions to Jesus.
Amen
(Mention your request here…)
St. Margaret of Cortona, pray for us.
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…
Day 8 – St. Margaret of Cortona Novena
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O glorious St. Margaret, you embarked on a life of penance and poverty after you repented of your sins. Jesus touched your heart, and after imposing on yourself a rigorous life of fasting, Jesus talked and conversed with you, revealing to you his merciful heart that rejoices whenever a sinner returns to him.
On controlling your appetite for food, you managed to free yourself from all temptations, including those of the flesh of which you were a victim for many years. Listen then to our petitions. May you bring our petitions to Jesus.
Amen
(Mention your request here…)
St. Margaret of Cortona, pray for us.
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…
Day 9 – St. Margaret of Cortona Novena
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O glorious St. Margaret, you embarked on a life of penance and poverty after you repented of your sins. Jesus touched your heart, and after imposing on yourself a rigorous life of fasting, Jesus talked and conversed with you, revealing to you his merciful heart that rejoices whenever a sinner returns to him.
On controlling your appetite for food, you managed to free yourself from all temptations, including those of the flesh of which you were a victim for many years. Listen then to our petitions. May you bring our petitions to Jesus.
Amen
(Mention your request here…)
St. Margaret of Cortona, pray for us.
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…
Leave us your prayers…