St. Margaret was the daughter of a pagan priest at Antioch (located in what is now modern day Turkey). She lost her mother in infancy and was placed in the care of a nurse in the country. By the Providence of God, this woman was a Catholic and had the loving care to make sure that her little charge was baptized and given a Catholic education.

In this way, Margaret grew up a modest, virtuous, pious virgin. When she returned to her father he was very impressed and pleased with his kind and graceful daughter. The pagan priest regretted only one thing; Margaret would not take part in the worship of idols. When she told him the reason for this, he was greatly displeased, for she explained that she was Catholic, and that nothing could separate her from the love of Christ.

Her father tried every means to change her mind, and when all his endeavors failed, he became enraged and drove her from his house. Margaret returned to her nurse and became her servant, doing all kinds of menial work, and at the same time growing in a purer and more perfect virtue. God was preparing her soul for the challenges that lay ahead - for it was about this time, that Emperor Diocletian began to persecute the Christians.

One day Alybrius, the prefect of the city, saw Margaret, and fell in love with her. He sent a messenger to ask her hand in marriage. The good virgin was quite dismayed at the proposal and replied to the messenger: "I can not be espoused to your master, because I am the spouse of Our Lord Jesus Christ. I am promised to Him, and to Him I wish to belong."

When the prefect heard this, he became furious with rage, and ordered that the virgin be brought to him by force. When she appeared before him, he asked her: "What is your name and rank?"

"I am called Margaret," she replied. "And I belong to a noble family. I adore Christ and serve Him."

The prefect then, with a certain disgust, advised her to abandon the worship of a crucified God. He spoke as if such a religion was degrading for a woman of her nobility. Who would worship a God of such defeat and humiliation?

Margaret asked him, "How do you know that we worship a crucified God?"

"From the books of the Catholics," answered the prefect.

"Why didn’t you read further on?" the young woman continued. "The books of the Catholics would have told you that the Crucified One rose on the third day, and that He ascended into Heaven. Is it love of truth that makes you believe in the abasement of Christ and yet reject His glorification, when both are in the same book?"

At this reproof the prefect became angry and ordered the tender virgin to be cruelly scourged, placed on the rack, and torn with iron combs. After these horrible tortures, she was cast into prison. There, Margaret fervently thanked God for His strength, which she completely depended on, and for the victory she had achieved in remaining faithful. Then she implored His help for the combat yet in store for her.

Angered at the courage of this simple woman, the devil decided to terrorize her himself. Suddenly, in Margaret’s dark prison cell, there appeared to her the arch-enemy of mankind. He had taken the shape of a furious dragon, threatening to swallow her. If Margaret would not succumb to the threats of his pagan followers, then satan would destroy her. But the brave virgin still had God’s grace and strength within her. Without any fear, Margaret faced the deadly beast. As the wretched creature crawled towards her, the young woman took hold of her prison chains. If the devil had taken on physical form to frighten her, then he could feel the consequences. Grasping the long chain firmly, Margaret lashed it against the beast. The dragon recoiled with anger and fright. Then the holy virgin made the Sign of the Cross over him. At this brave act of faith, the cowardly monster vanished. It is because of this combat with the devil, that St. Margaret is often depicted holding a rope or chain that is fastened around a defeated Dragon.

Then her desolate prison cell became filled with a heavenly light, and her heart was filled with divine consolation. At the same time, all of her terrible wounds were miraculously healed, and not the least scar was left.

The next day, Margaret was again brought before the prefect. Stunned at her complete recovery from the effects of his cruelty, he remarked that no doubt it was due to the power of the pagan gods. He then tried to convince her to show her gratitude by sacrificing to the idols.

Margaret, however, would not listen to his ridiculous lies. She had been healed by the power of Christ alone. She fearlessly declared that she despised the heathen gods which, as St. Paul says, are nothing but demons.

At this boldness, the rage of Alybrius knew no bounds. He ordered lighted torches to be applied to Margaret's body, and then had her cast into icy water to intensify her torture. But scarcely had this been done when a violent earthquake occurred. Her bonds were severed and she rose unscathed from the water, without a mark of the burns caused by the flaming torches.

As was often the case, a great number of people were there to witness the torturous punishments inflicted on Catholic Martyrs. Upon seeing this extraordinary miracle, though, many of the pagans present were converted to the True Faith. Finally Alybrius ordered Margaret to be beheaded. Her glorious martyrdom and death occurred about the year 275.

The incredible story of the virgin martyr St. Margaret teaches us that we can and ought to serve God always - even, and most especially, in our youth.

St. Augustine calls the years of youth the blossoms, the most beautiful flowers of life, and St. Thomas Aquinas writes: "What the young give to God in their early years, they give of the bloom, of the full vigor and beauty of life."

Youth is the age beset with countless temptations. Safety is found only in the service of God, by obedience, humility, and docility. This is not so difficult as it seems and people say. If we ask for Jesus’ and Mary’s help, we can be certain that They will help us overcome ourselves. Our Lord Himself calls you with the sweet command: "Give Me thy heart" (Prov. xxiii. 26), and assures us that His yoke is easy and His burden light. "Taste and see that the Lord is sweet" (Ps. xxxiii. 9).

Even though she was a young woman, Margaret did not hesitate to sacrifice the rest of her life for the love of her Lord. She gave Him everything, just as He had done for her, not counting the costs. That is what true Love does. Now in Heaven, St. Margaret is experiencing the reward and joys that God desires to share with His faithful children. Let us pray then to Margaret for the grace to follow her example: of virtue in the midst of trial; of fearless courage against the wicked Dragon; and of bold love for Jesus and His Truth.