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The Life and Miracles of Saint Margaret of Cortona (1247-1297). By Fra Giunta Bevegnati. Translation and Introduction by Thomas Renna; edited by Shannon Larson. (St. Bonaventure, NY: Franciscan Institute Publications. 2012. Pp. 344. $44.95 clothbound, ISBN 978-1-57659-301-1; $29.95 paperback, ISBN 978-1-57659-207-6.)
St. Margaret of Cortona packed a great deal of adventure into her early life. As an adolescent, she ran away and lived out of wedlock with a young nobleman. When he died, she and their son were rejected by both sets of parents. They went to Cortona, where she was given lodging and eventually employment as a midwife. During the following years (c. 1272-89) Margaret became a Franciscan tertiary, lived in a cell near the Franciscan house, sent her son off to be a Franciscan, adopted Fra Giunta as her spiritual guide and eventually her amanuensis, had regular conversations with Christ, founded a hospital, arbitrated disputes, and came to be recognized as arguably Cortona's most eminent resident....