Saint of the Day – 5 August – Saint Margaret the Barefooted (1335-1395)

Saint of the Day – 5 August – Saint Margaret the Barefooted (1335-1395) Married Laywoman, Widow, Apostle of the poor. Born in 1325 at Cesolo, San Severino, Italy and died on 5 August 1395 of natural causes. Patronages – brides, difficult marriages, victims of abuse, spusal abuse, widows. Also known as – Margaret of Cesolo, • Margaret la Picena, Margherita…

Margaret was born into a poor family in San Severino, Italy but she was married to a wealthy man at the age of 15.

However, he was cruelly abusive to her, beating her often for many years but Margaret never complained. He was angry at her love of the Faith, dedication to the Church and her assistance to the poor and needy. Margaret hid her bruises from the eyes of her neighbours, that her husband might not be blamed.

She walked barefooted as a beggar to better associate herself with the poor and to suffer herself as little as she felt she could to offer her hardships to God for the conversion of her husband and in reparation for sin. Margaret picked up her cross in humility and gratitude, happy to bear her sufferings with Christ Crucified.

Margaret prayers and sufferings did not go unanswered. Before his death, her husband converted and returned to the Faith, confessing his sins and attempting to make reparation to Margaret. He was blessed with a holy death. Margaret, herself continued her work for the poor and the sick, dying in 1395 of natural causes.