July 20 + Saint Margaret of Antioch

Margaret, born in 289 AD, was a native of Antioch, Syria (now Turkey) and the daughter of a pagan priest named Aedesius. Her mother died soon after her birth and Margaret was nursed by a Christian woman. She converted to Christianity, whereupon she was disowned by her father, was adopted by her nurse, and lived in the country keeping sheep.

One day, while she was engaged in watching the flocks, the Governor of the Roman Diocese of the East named Olybrius caught sight of her, and attracted by her great beauty sought to make her his wife. When neither flattery nor threats of punishment could succeed in moving her to yield to his desires, he had her brought before him in a public trial. Threatened with prison and death unless she renounced the Christian faith, the holy virgin refused to worship the gods of the empire.

She was then imprisoned where she had an encounter with the devil in the form of a dragon. According to tradition, he swallowed her, but the cross she carried in her hand so irritated his throat that he was forced to disgorge her.

An attempt was made to burn her, but the flames left her unharmed. She was then bound hand and foot and thrown into a cauldron of boiling water, but at her prayer her bonds were broken and she stood up uninjured. Thousands of spectators witnessing her ordeal converted to Christianity — all of whom were promptly executed. Finally the prefect ordered her to be beheaded.

She is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers, and hers was one of the voices heard by Saint Joan of Arc.