, we have opportunities
of subduing our evil inclinations and mortifying ourselves by frequent
self-denials, of watching over our hearts and purifying our senses by
recollection and prayer. Thus each one, in his station of life, may
become a saint, by making his calling an exercise of virtue and his
every act a step higher to perfection and eternal glory.

_Prayer of the Church_

O LORD, we beseech Thee to let us find grace through the intercession of
thy blessed confessor Giles; that what we can not obtain through our
merits be given us through his intercession. Through Christ our Lord
Amen.

XII

St. Margaret, Virgin and Martyr

LEGEND

ST. MARGARET was the daughter of a pagan priest at Antioch. She lost her
mother in infancy and was placed in the care of a nurse in the country,
who was a Christian, and whose first care was to have her little charge
baptized and to give the child a Christian education. Margaret grew up a
modest, pious virgin, and when she returned to her father he was charmed
with the grace and virtue of his daughter. He regretted only one thing;
she took no part in the worship of the idols. When she told him the
reason he was greatly displeased, for she stated that she was a
Christian, and that nothing should separate her from the love of Christ.

Her father tried every means to change her mind, and when all his
endeavors failed became enraged and drove her forth from his house.
Margaret returned to her nurse and became her servant, doing all kinds
of menial work, and at the same time perfecting herself in virtue.

About this time 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 in marriage. The pious
virgin was filled with consternation 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 gave orders to have the virgin brought to him by force. When she
appeared before him he thus addressed her: "What is your name and
condition?" She replied: "I am called Margaret, and belong to a noble
family. I adore Christ and serve Him." The prefect now advised her to
abandon the worship of a crucified God. Margaret asked him, "How do you
know that we worship a crucified God?" The prefect