SAINT FEAST DAY 13 APRIL: BL. MARGARET OF CASTELLO, VIRGIN

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN APRIL

Saints celebrated on the 13th of April

Prayer to the Angels and the Saints

Heavenly Father, in praising Your Angels and Saints we praise Your glory, for by honouring them we honour You, their Creator. Their splendour shows us Your greatness, which infinitely surpasses that of all creation.

In Your loving providence, You saw fit to send Your Angels to watch over us. Grant that we may always be under their protection and one day enjoy their company in heaven.

Heavenly Father, You are glorified in Your Saints, for their glory is the crowning of Your gifts. You provide an example for us by their lives on earth, You give us their friendship by our communion with them, You grant us strength and protection through their prayer for the Church, and You spur us on to victory over evil and the prize of eternal glory by this great company of witnesses.

Grant that we who aspire to take part in their joy may be filled with the Spirit that blessed their lives, so that, after sharing their faith on earth, we may also experience their peace in heaven. Amen.

BLESSED MARGARET OF CASTELLO, VIRGIN 

Blessed Margaret of Castello was born into a noble family at Metola Castle, Italy, in 1287. Blessed Margaret was born blind and with a curvature of her spine. She was four foot tall and had great difficulty walking. 

HER PARENTS HID HER BECAUSE SHE WAS DISABLED

Her parents were embarrassed at Blessed Margaret and hid her in the castle, not letting others see her. The parents eventually abandoned Blessed Margaret at the local church and a pious couple took her into their home. 

A PIOUS COUPLE TOOK HER INTO THEIR HOME

Blessed Margaret grew in faith and she confided to a priest that every time she attended Mass she saw Jesus on the altar. The priest suggested that perhaps it was that she was just sensing Jesus, but Blessed Margaret insisted that she saw Jesus. When asked by the priest to say what Jesus looked like, Blessed Margaret replied, "Oh Father, you are asking me to describe Infinite Beauty."

"INFINITE BEAUTY"

In 1303, Blessed Margaret got to know the Dominican Friars who had become established in the town. She came under their spiritual guidance and became a member of their Third Order of St Dominic. She wore the religious habit of the Order for the rest of her life. 

Blessed Margaret became ill in 1320 and in her final hours a procession of Dominican Friars arrived to give her the Last Rites and Blessed Margaret died on April 12 contemplating the Eucharist. She was beatified as Blessed by Pope Paul V in 1609.

Blessed Margaret was never bitter about her parent's decision to abandon her and could say about them, "If only you knew what I have in my heart."

Blessed Margaret of Castello, pray for us.

(From: Spiritual Thought From Fr Chris)