Today we read about St Margaret of Cortona in the book In Caelo et in Terra. Her life began like a fairy tale: her mother died when she was young, and her father married an evil stepmother who treated her very cruelly. So she ran away with a prince charming. If they had gotten married and lived happily ever after, that story would not have gotten into this book.
As it was, the prince charming didn't marry her, but died instead. She was left with her son, alone in the world. So she joined a local order of Franciscans. She lived a life of penance, and helping the poor. Her son followed her into the order, which was a third order for lay people. Eventually, after serving the poor for years, she passed away, and was immediately recognized by everyone who knew her as a saint. She was canonized by the church many years later. You can read more about her here.
Her life started out rough, and I think many of us can relate to that. But what she did with that life ended in holiness, ended in loving people and making a big difference in the world. You have the same choice, every day. What can you do today to make that difference in someone's life? It might be as simple as a smile.
God, thanks for teaching us that even if we start out hard, we can end up in the right place if we seek You. St Margaret of Cortona, pray for us.
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