Her father, Theodosius, was a priest of the Gentiles.

She was put out to nurse and secretly baptised.

One day when she was in her fifteenth year, as she was watching the flock belonging to her nurse, the governor Olibrius saw her, and, struck by her great beauty, conceived a great passion for her.

Wherefore he said to his servants: "Go, bring me that girl, in order that if she be free I may marry her, or if she be a slave I may take her into my service." And when she was brought he inquired of her her country, her name, and her religion.

She replied that she was called Margaret and that she was a Christian.
And Olibrius said unto her: "How comes it that so noble and beautiful a girl as you can worship Jesus the Crucified ?" And because she replied that Jesus Christ was alive for ever, the governor in wrath had her thrown into prison.
The next day he summoned her to appear before him and said: "Unhappy girl, have pity on your own beauty and for your own sake worship our gods.