Bl. Margaret of Castello
Posted on April 13, 2020 by admin No comments
Born: 1287 Mercatello sul Metauro, Città di Castello, Papal States
Died: 12 April 1320 (aged 32–33) Città di Castello, Papal States
Venerated: in Roman Catholic Church
Beatified: 19 October 1609, Saint Peter’s Basilica, Papal States by Pope Paul V
Major shrine: Chiesa di San Domenico, Città di Castello, Perugia, Italy
Feast: 13 April
Patronage: Pro-life movements Disabled people, Blind people
Margaret of Città di Castello (1287 – 12 April 1320) was an Italian Roman Catholic and professed member from the Third Order of Saint Dominic. Margaret was disabled and became known for her deep faith and holiness. Her parents abandoned her in a local church due to her disabilities and the town’s poor took her in and assumed care for her. Nuns later offered her a home at their convent but soon came to detest her presence and cast her out prompting the town’s poor to once again take her in and care for her. But she met with Dominican friars and was accepted as a secular member in their third order; she started a school for children to teach them in the faith and often took care of children while their parents were out at work.
Margaret’s holiness was apparent to all in her life that people lobbied for her to be buried in the local church which was an honor reserved for few – this was a clear demonstration people believed in her holiness. Her beatification received approval from Pope Paul V on 19 October 1609.
Life
Margaret della Metola was born in Perugia in 1287 to the nobles Parisio and Emilia in the Metola Castle near Mercatello sul Metauro. Her father served at the garrison at the castle.
Metola was born blind with a severe curvature of the spine and had difficulties in walking; she was also a dwarf. Though her parents (who were embarrassed of her and their pride hurt) hid her from all, a kind maid found her and gave her the name Margaret (derived from the Greek word “margaron”, meaning “pearl”). When she was almost publicly discovered at age six, her parents imprisoned her for about a decade in a room attached to their residence’s chapel, to ensure no one would see her, although she could attend Mass and receive the sacraments. Her parents’ chaplain instructed her in the faith. Once she was locked up, her father ordered a mason to seal the door since it was his intention to keep her there until she died.
But soon there was an imminent threat of invasion at the castle, so Parisio ordered his wife to place a dark veil upon their daughter so the two could flee to his other castle at Mercatello. There she was again imprisoned in a vault-like cubicle containing nothing more than an old small bench. There were some who knew of Margaret and were furious at her treatment, though they never dared broach the subject with the sometimes temper-prone Parisio. Her mother soon suggested taking her to a church where miracles were said to occur. Emilia was timid asking her husband but was surprised to see that he showed a keen interest.
In 1303 her parents took her one morning to a shrine in the Franciscan church in Castello – where miracles were said to be being wrought – to come hoping for a cure for Metola’s birth defects. When no such miracle happened, her parents abandoned her there. But she never came to resent or be bitter over her parent’s decision. Some women came to the church to notice her there. The town’s poor took her in as one of their own and she was passed to several poor families who helped prisoners and other poor people. Metola was soon granted safe haven in a local convent. Their lax manner of life, though, soon conflicted with her intense faith and she was expelled from the convent since her fervor was a tacit reproach to the nuns who came to detest her presence. It was after this that she took up residence in the town where the townsfolk resumed caring for her. To thank them for their kindness, she opened a small school for the children of the town where she instructed them in the faith and the psalms, which she had learnt during her time with the nuns. Metola also looked after the town’s children when their parents went to work.
In 1303 she came to know the friars from the Dominicans who had become established in the town not long before. Margaret came under their spiritual guidance and was admitted to the local chapter of the Third Order of Saint Dominic; she received the religious habit of the order. Metola wore this habit for the rest of her life.
Metola died on 12 April 1320 and the crowds at her funeral demanded that she be buried inside the church against the resistance of the parish priest. But after a disabled girl was cured at the funeral he allowed for Metola’s burial inside.
Beatification
Her remains were transferred on 9 June 1558 because her coffin was rotten. Her clothes were also rotten but her remains were preserved. The local bishop ordered for a new casket to be made to house her remains, though he decided to inspect her remains for the beatification cause which had been started. Metola measured four feet long and her head was rather large in proportion to her thin figure. Her forehead was broad with a face tapering to the chin with a quite prominent nose. Her teeth were small and even and were serrated at the edges. Her hands and feet were small with her right leg an inch and a half shorter than the left (the cause for her limp).
Her “cultus” (or longstanding veneration) was recognized allowing Pope Paul V to confer equivalent beatification for her on 19 October 1609. Pope Clement X extended the privilege of a Mass and Divine Office in her name to the entire Dominican order on 6 April 1675 rather than for the Perugian branch as Paul V had done at her beatification. In 1988 the Urbino archbishop, Ugo Donato Bianchi, named her as a patron for the blind.
Prayer to Bl. Margaret of Castello
Compassionate God, you gave your divine light to Blessed Margaret who was blind from birth, that with the eye of her heart she might contemplate you alone. Be the light of our eyes that we may turn from what is evil and reach the home of never-ending light. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Ghost, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Prayer to Bl. Margaret of Castello to obtain her intercession
Almighty and Eternal God, the comfort of the afflicted, the strength of the burdened and the hope of the unwanted; may the prayers of those who call on you in any trouble be heard by you; so that all may rejoice to be helped by your Mercy in their need.
V. Pray for us, Bl. Margaret.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let Us Pray
O God, who wished Blessed Margaret be blind from birth so that the eyes of her soul, enlightened by your grace, might more clearly see the value of spiritual realities: graciously grant that we may perceive the hidden dangers in the world of darkness and safely reach our home of eternal light. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Novena to the Bl. Margaret of Castello
Please recite this Novena for 9 consecutive days
First Day:
O Blessed Margaret of Castello, in embracing your life just as it was, you gave us an example of resignation To the will of God. In so accepting God’s will, you knew that you would grow in virtue, glorify God, save your own soul, and help the souls of your neighbors. Obtain for me the grace to recognize the will of God in all that may happen to me in my life and so resign myself to it. Obtain for me also the special favor, which I now ask, through your intercession with God.
Let us pray…
O God by whose will the blessed virgin, Margaret, was blind from birth, that the eyes of her mind being inwardly enlightened she might think without ceasing on You alone; be the light of our eyes, that we may be able to flee the shadows in this world, and reach the home of never-ending light. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Jesus, Mary, Joseph, glorify your servant Blessed Margaret, by granting the favor we so ardently desire. This we ask in humble submission To God’s Will, For His honor and glory and the salvation of souls.
Our Father…
Hail Mary…
Glory Be…
Second Day:
O Blessed Margaret of Castello, in reflecting so deeply upon the sufferings and death of our Crucified Lord, you learned courage and gained the grace to bear your own afflictions. Obtain for me the grace and courage that I so urgently need so as to be able to bear my infirmities and endure my afflictions in union with our suffering Savior. Obtain for me also the special favor which I now ask through your intercession with God.
Let us pray…
O God by whose will the blessed virgin, Margaret, was blind from birth, that the eyes of her mind being inwardly enlightened she might think without ceasing on You alone; be the light of our eyes, that we may be able to flee the shadows in this world, and reach the home of never-ending light. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Jesus, Mary, Joseph, glorify your servant Blessed Margaret, by granting the favor we so ardently desire. this we ask in humble submission to God’s will, for His honor and glory and the salvation of souls.
Our Father…
Hail Mary…
Glory Be…
Third Day:
O Blessed Margaret of Castello, your love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament was intense and enduring. It was here in intimacy with the Divine Presence that you found spiritual strength to accept suffering, to be cheerful, patient, and kindly towards others. Obtain for me the grace that I may draw from this same source, as from an exhaustible font, the strength whereby I may be kind and understanding of everyone despite whatever pain or discomfort may come my way. Obtain for this through your intercession with God.
Let us pray…
O God by whose will the blessed virgin, Margaret, was blind from birth, that the eyes of her mind being inwardly enlightened she might think without ceasing on You alone; be the light of our eyes, that we may be able to flee the shadows in this world, and reach the home of never-ending light. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Jesus, Mary, Joseph, glorify your servant Blessed Margaret, by granting the favor we so ardently desire. this we ask in humble submission to God’s will, for His honor and glory and the salvation of souls.
Our Father…
Hail Mary…
Glory Be…
Fourth Day:
O Blessed Margaret of Castello, you unceasingly turned to God in prayer with confidence and trust in His fatherly love. It was only through continual prayer that you were enabled to accept your misfortunes, to be serene, patient, and at peace. Obtain for me the grace to persevere in my prayer, confident that God will give me the help to carry whatever cross comes into my life. Obtain for me also the special favor which I now ask through your intercession with God.
Let us pray…
O God by whose will the blessed virgin, Margaret, was blind from birth, that the eyes of her mind being inwardly enlightened she might think without ceasing on You alone; be the light of our eyes, that we may be able to flee the shadows in this world, and reach the home of never-ending light. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Jesus, Mary, Joseph, glorify your servant Blessed Margaret, by granting the favor we so ardently desire. this we ask in humble submission to God’s will, for His honor and glory and the salvation of souls.
Our Father…
Hail Mary…
Glory Be…
Fifth Day:
O Blessed Margaret of Castello, in imitation of the Child Jesus, who was subject to Mary and Joseph, you obeyed your father and mother, overlooking their unnatural harshness. Obtain for me that same attitude of obedience toward all those who have legitimate authority over me, most especially toward the Holy Roman Catholic Church. Obtain for me also the special favor which I now ask through your intercession with God.
Let us pray…
O God by whose will the blessed virgin, Margaret, was blind from birth, that the eyes of her mind being inwardly enlightened she might think without ceasing on You alone; be the light of our eyes, that we may be able to flee the shadows in this world, and reach the home of never-ending light. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Jesus, Mary, Joseph, glorify your servant Blessed Margaret, by granting the favor we so ardently desire. this we ask in humble submission to God’s will, for His honor and glory and the salvation of souls.
Our Father…
Hail Mary…
Glory Be…
Sixth Day:
O Blessed Margaret of Castello, your miseries taught you better than any teacher the weakness and frailty of human nature.
Obtain for me the grace to recognize my human limitations and to acknowledge my utter dependence upon God. Acquire for me that abandonment which leaves me completely at the mercy of God. Obtain for me also the special favor which I now ask through your intercession with God.
Let us pray…
O God by whose will the blessed virgin, Margaret, was blind from birth, that the eyes of her mind being inwardly enlightened she might think without ceasing on You alone; be the light of our eyes, that we may be able to flee the shadows in this world, and reach the home of never-ending light. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Jesus, Mary, Joseph, glorify your servant Blessed Margaret, by granting the favor we so ardently desire. this we ask in humble submission to God’s will, for His honor and glory and the salvation of souls.
Our Father…
Hail Mary…
Glory Be…
Seventh Day:
O Blessed Margaret of Castello, you could have so easily become discouraged and bitter; but, instead, you fixed your eyes
on the suffering Christ and there you learned from Him the redemptive value of suffering . How to offer your pains and aches,
in reparation for sin and for the salvation of souls. Obtain for me the grace to learn how to endure my sufferings with patience. Obtain for me also the special favor which I now ask through your intercession with God.
Let us pray…
O God by whose will the blessed virgin, Margaret, was blind from birth, that the eyes of her mind being inwardly enlightened she might think without ceasing on You alone; be the light of our eyes, that we may be able to flee the shadows in this world, and reach the home of never-ending light. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Jesus, Mary, Joseph, glorify your servant Blessed Margaret, by granting the favor we so ardently desire. this we ask in humble submission to God’s will, for His honor and glory and the salvation of souls.
Our Father…
Hail Mary…
Glory Be…
Eigth Day:
O Blessed Margaret of Castello, how it must have hurt when your parents abandoned you! Yet you learned from this that all earthly love and affection, even for those who are closest, must be sanctified. And so, despite everything, you continued to love your parents – but now you loved them in God. Obtain for me the grace that I might see all my human loves and affections in their proper perspective… in God and for God. Obtain for me also the special favor which I now ask through your intercession with God.
Let us pray…
O God by whose will the blessed virgin, Margaret, was blind from birth, that the eyes of her mind being inwardly enlightened she might think without ceasing on You alone; be the light of our eyes, that we may be able to flee the shadows in this world, and reach the home of never-ending light. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Jesus, Mary, Joseph, glorify your servant Blessed Margaret, by granting the favor we so ardently desire. this we ask in humble submission to God’s will, for His honor and glory and the salvation of souls.
Our Father…
Hail Mary…
Glory Be…
Ninth Day:
O Blessed Margaret of Castello, through your suffering and misfortune, you became sensitive to the sufferings of others. Your heart reached out to everyone in trouble – the sick, the hungry, the dying prisoners. Obtain for me the grace to recognize Jesus in everyone with whom I come into contact, especially in the poor, the wretched, the unwanted! Obtain for me also the special favor which I now ask through your intercession with God.
Let us pray…
O God by whose will the blessed virgin, Margaret, was blind from birth, that the eyes of her mind being inwardly enlightened she might think without ceasing on You alone; be the light of our eyes, that we may be able to flee the shadows in this world,
and reach the home of never-ending light. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Jesus, Mary, Joseph, glorify your servant Blessed Margaret, by granting the favor we so ardently desire. this we ask in humble submission to God’s will, for His honor and glory and the salvation of souls.
Our Father…
Hail Mary…
Glory Be…
Prayer
O my God, I thank you for having given Blessed Margaret of Castello to the world as an example of the degree of holiness that can be attained by anyone who truly loves you, regardless of physical abnormalities. In today’s perverted culture, Margaret would have, most likely, never been born; death through abortion being preferable to life, especially life in an ugly distorted twisted body. But Your ways are not the world’s ways… And so it was Your Will that Margaret would be born into the world with just such a malformed body. It is Your way that uses our weakness to give testimony to Your power.
Margaret was born blind, so as to see You more clearly; a cripple, so as to lean on You completely; dwarfed in physical posture, so as to become a giant in the spiritual order; hunch-backed, so as to more perfectly resemble the twisted, crucified body of Your Son. Margaret’s whole life was an enactment of the words expressed by Paul: “So I shall be very happy to make my weaknesses my special boast so that the power of Christ may stay over me and that is why I am content with my weaknesses, and with insults, hardships, persecutions and the agonies I go through for Christ’s sake. For it is when I am weak that I am strong.” (2 Cor 12:10). I beseech you, O God, to grant through the intercession Of Blessed Margaret of Castello, that all the handicapped … and who among us is not?… all rejected, all unwanted of the world may make their weaknesses their own special boast so that your power may stay over them now and forever. Amen.
Blessed Margaret of Castello, pray for us.
Our Father…
Hail Mary…
Glory Be…