ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MARCH
Saints celebrated on the 7th of March
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| A page of one of Fortunatus Hueber's Saints' books, "Stammenbuch..." (1693) |
Margarita de Piazza was born in Sicily. Her father's name was Thomas Matthia and her mother's name was Angela Negra. Both were very pious, and rejoiced greatly when they saw that their little daughter, from a very young age, was showing many signs of future sanctity. Therefore they gladly allowed the pious child to take the habit of the Third Order of Saint Francis. From then on, the young girl began a solitary and penitential life in a secluded apartment of her father's house.
When her mother had died, her widowed father got married for a second time, and Margarita continued this austere lifestyle together with her saintly brother at another solitary dwelling. This brother must have been a priest, for it is said that she once saw angels serving him at Mass. She gathered poor girls to her dwelling, instructed them in various things, and led them to piety.
She resolved to live in voluntary poverty and to beg for her living, like Saint Francis had done; therefore she refused all support that her father wanted to give her. It seems that her father was quite wealthy.
The life Margarita chose for herself was extraordinarily strict; often she went for days on end without eating any food, mercilessly whipped herself daily, wore nothing on her body but her very coarse habit and under it a sharp cilicium; wore no shoes, just sandals.
The Lord bestowed extraordinary graces and gifts on this faithful, self-sacrificing servant. She wonderfully read hearts, prophesied things to come, and performed many miracles on the sick, blind, and those afflicted with incurable illnesses. People flocked to her for help from all over the island.
Every day she attended Saint Nicholas Church to hear the Holy Mass. She had special devotion to the Passion and the most holy Name of Jesus, as well as to Saint Joseph. The angels often appeared to her and also brought her food.
At the age of 67, she died following a serious illness with a general reputation for holiness. Margarita was buried in the Franciscan church of Saint Maria de Jesu next to the altar of the Mother of God. (J.M.R.)
Margarita is also remembered on May 12 and December 28.
(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints, Volume 4, Augsburg, 1875, pp. 142-43)
Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations
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