24 B. MARGARET married life; she had several sons and daughters whom she brought up piously. B,M.y Aug. 27, AA.SS., Aug. i), Baro- nius, Annates, B. Margaret (22) Dominici, June 13, 1378-1442, O.S.F., was bom at Foligno, of obscure but honest parents. From the time of her mother's death, when she was fifteen, she prayed for two years incessantly to be guided where and how she was to serre God. He inspired B. Angelina Cokbara to come to Foligno, where, in 1395, she founded the monastery of St. Anna. Devotees came from many places but Margaret was the first virgin of Foligno to enter there. Angelina was like the sun among planets, and Margaret was like the moon among stars. The number of nuns being too great for this convent, in 1399 a branch was established, one hundred paces from St. Anna's, and was dedicated in the name of St. Agnes, y.M. After long prayers it appeared that Margaret was chosen in heaven to rule the new monastiery. When Angelina announced this to her, Margaret was overwhelmed with the sense of her own unworthiness, but in obedience to the Ministra — as Angelina was called — and the bishop, she was obliged to accept the office of Superior of the new house. It was called La Margaritura and the nuns were called Margaritole, In 1402 the Margaritole had become so numerous that she had to enlarge the house. Mar- garet was sent in 1431 to set up a now monastery of St. Catherine in Spoleto. She afterwards returned to her own at Foligno, and was eventually elected second Minister- General of the Ter- tiaries. She miraculously cured de- formed and dumb persons. She died on June 13, the day of St. Antony of Padua, whom thenceforward her nuns took for patron, honouring their own saint with him every year. Many pri- vileges had been granted by different Popes, to the convent of St. Anna, and Pius II., in 14G2, extended these to the house of St. Agnes of the Margaritura. Margaret performed new miracles when her grave was opened, and again, in 1588, on the occasion of her translation. She is enrolled by the O.S.F. and by the people of Foligno among their Saints. Jacobilli, Santi di Foligno Santi ddV Umbria^ and his life of St. Angelina. B. Margaret (23) of Sulmona, Sept. 5, 1395-1449, O.S.F. Daughter of Francesco Figliuoli and of Gemma (5) di Letto. Margaret was brought up by her cousin Alexandrina in the convent of St. Clara at Sulmona. Jacobilli has written the lives of the saintly family of Letto of Sulmona, whose members he also mentions in his Sanii delV Umhria, B. Margaret (24) of Savoy or Mar- OARiDA A Grande (Agiologio Dominico), Nov. 23, 27, -f 1464, 3rd O.S.D. Patron of Alba de Montferrat. Represented holding three lances. Daughter of Louis, count of Savoy and prince of Achaia, who was a member of the family of the dukes of Savoy. She was married young to Theodore Paleologus, marquis of Montferrat, of imperial descent. She was disposed to virtue and piety and her heart was touched by the preaching of St Vincent Ferrer, so that she became more strict in her conduct. Under her silken robes, she wore a cilicium. She was extremely charitable, particularly to those who were ashamed to beg. Her husband died about 1418, and she left the government to John James, her step- son. When she was a widow and before she became a nun, she prayed to bo num- bered among the elect. The Lord ap- peared to her in human form. He offered her three lances, which were the three different trials of calumny, sickness, and persecution, and asked her which she would choose to suffer. She said she would leave the choice to His wisdom, so He granted her all the three. She had no children. She went to Alba, not as a princess but as a poor woman, and in a few days she took the habit of the Third Order of St. Dominic She was still beautiful and was invited to marry Filippo Maria, duke of Milan. She re- fused on the ground of her religious TOW. Eugenius IV. granted a dispensa- tion, but she would not have it She Buffered badly from gout and prayed to be rid of it. The Virgin Mary told her she must boar it until her death. She did so and never complained again. She asked and received of the Pope, the old
