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ST MARGARET OF ANTIOCH, VIRGIN AND MARTYR - 20 JULY

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JULY

Saints celebrated on the 20th of July

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SAINT MARGARET OF ANTIOCH, VIRGIN AND MARTYR

Saint Margaret's mother died soon after her birth and Margaret was nursed by a pious woman five or six leagues from Antioch. Having embraced Christianity and consecrated her virginity to God, she was disowned by her pagan father and adopted by her nurse.

SHE WAS REPORTED TO THE AUTHORITIES

While she was one day engaged in watching the flocks of her mistress, a lustful Roman prefect named Olybrius caught sight of her, and attracted by her great beauty sought to make her his concubine or wife. When neither cajolery nor threats of punishment could succeed in moving her to yield to his desires, he had her brought before him in public trial at Antioch. 

SHE WAS THREATENED WITH DEATH UNLESS SHE RENOUNCED THE CHRISTIAN FAITH

Threatened with death unless she renounced the Christian faith, the holy virgin refused to adore the gods of the empire and an attempt was made to burn her, but the flames, we are told in her Acts, left her unhurt. She was then bound hand and foot and thrown into a cauldron of boiling water, but at her prayer her bonds were broken and she stood up uninjured. Finally the prefect ordered her to be beheaded. 

SAINT MARGARET ICONS

Her Acts place her death in the persecution of Diocletian (A.D. 303-5). Saint Margaret is represented in art sometimes as a shepherdess, or as leading a chained dragon, again carrying a little cross or a girdle in her hand, or standing by a large vessel which recalls the cauldron into which she was plunged. 

Source: Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913

Saint Margaret is invoked by pregnant women. She is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers.

PRAYER:

May the blessed Margaret, Virgin and Martyr, who was ever pleasing to you by the merit of her chastity and by her trust in your power, implore for us your forgiveness, we beseech you, O God. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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