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St. Margaret of Antioch

Feast 07-20 · Canonized Pre-Congregation

Patron of

About

Margaret, also known as Marina, was a virgin martyr of Antioch in Pisidia who lived in the late third century. According to tradition, she was the daughter of a pagan priest, converted to Christianity, and consecrated herself to God as a virgin. When the Roman prefect Olybrius sought her in marriage, she refused him and professed her faith openly.

She was imprisoned and tortured, and legend tells that she was swallowed by a dragon, which burst open when she made the sign of the cross, leaving her unharmed. She was finally beheaded around 304.

Margaret is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers and was among the most popular saints of the Middle Ages. Because of her deliverance from the dragon, she is invoked especially by women in childbirth and against complications of labor.

childbirth, labor, delivery, giving birth, birth, pregnant, contractions, birthing, labor and delivery, having a baby, child birth

Suggested prayer

O God, who delivered St. Margaret of Antioch unharmed from the dragon by the sign of the cross, grant through her intercession that women in childbirth and all in danger may be delivered safely. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Sources

Other saints to pray to

For childbirth