Blessed Margaret de Castello

FEAST DAY: April 13th

Margaret de Castello was born blind and disfigured. She is the patroness of the 
poor, crippled, and the unwanted.  Her parents Parisio and Emilia imprisoned her so no one would see her, though she could receive the Sacraments when the priest visited her.  Her parents took her to the tomb in Citta di Castello of a holy man named Fra Giacomo, where miracles were reportedly being wrought, to pray for a cure for her birth defects. When no miracle happened, they abandoned her there. She was found by local women who, despite Margaret’s infirmities, adopted her. She eventually became an adopted child of the village. She lived in prayer and charity, helping the poor.

When Margaret grew older, the nun of a local convent offered her a home. At the prospect of living with the religious Margaret rejoiced. However, the village took her joy as a reproach to the community that raised her. She was once again sent out to the streets by persecution and lies.

Fortunately there were a few people left who helped her again and offered her shelter. At fifteen Margaret was given the habit of a tertiary from the Dominican fathers. From thereon, she lived a life entirely devoted to God.

Margaret started performing miraculous cures and acts. In her desire to show gratitude to the people who found and raised her in Citta-di-Castello she established a school for the children whose parents were working. Her school prospered having taught the children their duty to God, devotion to the Child Jesus and the Psalms, which despite her blindness, she learned at the convent. Margaret died at the age of thirty-three. 

 She was born blind, lame, deformed, hunchbacked and a dwarf. When she died at the age of 33, crowds at her funeral demanded she be buried inside the church. After a crippled girl was miraculously cured at the funeral, the priest allowed Margaret’s burial inside.

In 1558, Margaret’s remains were transferred because her coffin was rotten. Her clothes were also rotten, but her body was preserved. She was beatified on October 19, 1609 by Pope Paul V. Her canonization is pending.

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SHORT NOVENA PRAYER

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 of this world, and reach the home of never ending light. We ask this through Christ, our Lord.
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be ....

Prayer for Canonization

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.