lundi 13 avril 2015

Bienheureuse MARGUERTITE de CASTELLO (de METOLA), vierge tertiaire dominicaine et mystique


Statue de Marguerite de Castello, sanctuaire de la Saint Patrick Catholic Church 
(Columbus, Ohio)

Marguerite de Castello


Dominicaine, Bienheureuse

+ 1320


Marguerite était native de Metela, citadelle sur le fleuve Metaur, non loin d'Urbino et de Citta-di-Castello. Elle naquit aveugle, mais elle supporta ce malheur, dès son enfance même, avec une patience et une résignation héroïque, persuadée que Dieu le lui avait envoyé, pour qu'il procurât le salut de son âme.

Vers ce temps, se répandit partout le bruit de la sainteté et des miracles du B. Jacques du tiers-ordre de saint François, une foule d'infirmes venaient en pèlerinage à son tombeau, afin de recouvrer leur santé par son intercession. La jeune Marguerite aussi y fut conduite par ses parents, mais Dieu ne voulut pas qu'elle fut guérie. Ses parents, qui ne regardaient pas cet événement avec les yeux de la religion, ni dans l'esprit d'un vrai chrétien, en furent très-affligés, et laissèrent leur fille à Citta-di-Castello, dans le couvent de sainte Marguerite, qui maintenant n'existe plus. Mais comme on ne voulut pas la garder , à cause de sa cécité, deux époux pleins de piété, Venturino et Grigia, la reçurent chez eux, et lui donnèrent les soins les plus affectueux. Quoique jeune encore d'années, elle était très-versée dans la doctrine chrétienne, et à même de donner aux autres sur ce point l'instruction la plus solide. Elle savait par cœur l'office de la Sainte-Vierge et le psautier, qui lui fournissaient souvent matière aux plus sublimes réflexions. Cette rare vertu et cette notion de la plus sainte de toutes les sciences inspirèrent la plus grande admiration à toutes les personnes qui la connaissaient ; on ne pouvait s'empêcher de la regarder comme particulièrement favorisée du ciel.

Sa vertu ayant été éprouvée de la manière la plus éclatante, elle reçut le voile dans le tiers-ordre de saint Dominique, dans l'église duquel elle avait fait tous les jours ses exercices de dévotion. Les actes de la bienheureuse Vierge rapportent beaucoup de miracles opérés par son intercession, avant et après sa mort. Elle quitta ce monde le 13 Avril 1320, et c'est à ce jour qu'appartient proprement cette notice. Les uns la nomment Sainte, les autres Bienheureuse.

Bienheureuse Marguerite de Metola

vierge ( 1320)

Marguerite de Metola ou de Città di Castello est née à Metola (Italie). Sœur de la Pénitence de Saint-Dominique. Née aveugle, naine et difforme, abandonnée par ses parents, elle fut recueillie par la charité publique où plusieurs familles s'occupèrent d'elle. Elle garda toute sa vie un cœur confiant dans le nom de Jésus. Elle vécut ainsi 33 ans à Città del Castello. Culte approuvé en 1609.

Martyrologe romain

à lire : Une petite sainte de rien du tout 
par William R. Bonniwell, o.p. traduit de l'américain par E. Aimont, Paris, Imprimerie Maison de la Bonne Presse (5, rue Bayard, Paris - 8ième), 1953.



Blessed Margaret of Città di Castello V (AC)

(also known as Margaret of Metola)

Born in at Meldola (or Metola, diocese of S. Angelo), Umbria, Italy, in 1287; died 1320; cultus approved in 1609.


Margaret was born blind into a poor, mountain family, who were embittered by her affliction. When she was five years old, they made a pilgrimage to the tomb of a holy Franciscan at Castello to pray for a cure. The miracle failing, they abandoned their daughter in the church of Città-di-Castello and returned to their home.

Margaret was passed from family to family until she was adopted by a kindly peasant woman named Grigia, who had a large family of her own. Margaret's natural sweetness and goodness soon made themselves felt, and she more than repaid the family for their kindness to her. She was an influence for good in any group of children. She stopped their quarrels, heard their catechism, told them stories, taught them Psalms and prayers. Busy neighbors were soon borrowing her to soothe a sick child or to establish peace in the house.

Her reputation for holiness was so great that a community of sisters in the town asked for her to become one of them. Margaret went happily to join them, but, unfortunately, there was little fervor in the house. The little girl who was so prayerful and penitential was a reproach to their lax lives, so Margaret returned to Grigia, who gladly welcomed her home.

Later, Margaret was received as a Dominican Tertiary and clothed with the religious habit. Grigia's home became the rendezvous site of troubled souls seeking Margaret's prayers. She said the Office of the Blessed Virgin and the entire Psalter by heart, and her prayers had the effect of restoring peace of mind to the troubled.

Denied earthly sight, Margaret was favored with heavenly visions. "Oh, if you only knew what I have in my heart!" she often said. The mysteries of the rosary, particularly the joyful mysteries, were so vivid to her that her whole person would light up when she described the scene. She was often in ecstasy, and, despite great joys and favors in prayer, she was often called upon to suffer desolation and interior trials of frightening sorts. The devil tormented her severely at times, but she triumphed over these sufferings.

A number of miracles were performed by Blessed Margaret. On one occasion, while she was praying in an upper room, Grigia's house caught fire, and she called to Margaret to come down. The blessed, however, called to her to throw her cloak on the flames. This she did, and the blaze died out. At another time, she cured a sister who was losing her eyesight.

Beloved by her adopted family and by her neighbors and friends, Margaret died at the early age of 33. From the time of her death, her tomb in the Dominican church was a place of pilgrimage. Her body, even to this day, is incorrupt.

After her death, the fathers received permission to have her heart opened. In it were three pearls, having holy figures carved upon them. They recalled the saying so often on the lips of Margaret: "If you only knew what I have in my heart!" (Attwater2, Benedictines, Dorcy).

In art, Margaret is pictured as a Dominican tertiary holding a cross, lily, and heart with two flames offered to the crucifix (Roeder).


Blessed Margaret of Castello

Memorial Day: April 13th

Profile

    Margaret was born blind into a poor, mountain family, who were embittered by her affliction. When she was five years old, they made a pilgrimage to the tomb of a holy Franciscan at Castello to pray for a cure. The miracle failing, they abandoned their daughter in the church of Città-di-Castello and returned to their home.

    Margaret was passed from family to family until she was adopted by a kindly peasant woman named Grigia, who had a large family of her own. Margaret's natural sweetness and goodness soon made themselves felt, and she more than repaid the family for their kindness to her. She was an influence for good in any group of children. She stopped their quarrels, heard their catechism, told them stories, taught them Psalms and prayers. Busy neighbors were soon borrowing her to soothe a sick child or to establish peace in the house.

    Her reputation for holiness was so great that a community of sisters in the town asked for her to become one of them. Margaret went happily to join them, but, unfortunately, there was little fervor in the house. The little girl who was so prayerful and penitential was a reproach to their lax lives, so Margaret returned to Grigia, who gladly welcomed her home.

    Later, Margaret was received as a Dominican Tertiary and clothed with the religious habit. Grigia's home became the rendezvous site of troubled souls seeking Margaret's prayers. She said the Office of the Blessed Virgin and the entire Psalter by heart, and her prayers had the effect of restoring peace of mind to the troubled.

    Denied earthly sight, Margaret was favored with heavenly visions. "Oh, if you only knew what I have in my heart!" she often said. The mysteries of the rosary, particularly the joyful mysteries, were so vivid to her that her whole person would light up when she described the scene. She was often in ecstasy, and, despite great joys and favors in prayer, she was often called upon to suffer desolation and interior trials of frightening sorts. The devil tormented her severely at times, but she triumphed over these sufferings.

    A number of miracles were performed by Blessed Margaret. On one occasion, while she was praying in an upper room, Grigia's house caught fire, and she called to Margaret to come down. The blessed, however, called to her to throw her cloak on the flames. This she did, and the blaze died out. At another time, she cured a sister who was losing her eyesight.

    Beloved by her adopted family and by her neighbors and friends, Margaret died at the early age of 33. From the time of her death, her tomb in the Dominican church was a place of pilgrimage. Her body, even to this day, is incorrupt. More than 200 miracles have been credited to her intercession after her death. She was beatified in 1609. Thus the daughter that nobody wanted is one of the glories of the Church

    After her death, the fathers received permission to have her heart opened. In it were three pearls, having holy figures carved upon them. They recalled the saying so often on the lips of Margaret: "If you only knew what I have in my heart!" (Attwater2, Benedictines, Dorcy).

Born: in 1287 at Meldola, Vado, Italy

Died: April 13th, 1320 of Natural Causes (Her body is incorrupt)

Beatified: October 19th, 1609 by Pope Paul V

Patronage: Against poverty, disabled people, handicapped people, impoverishment, people rejected by religious orders, physically challenged people, poverty.

Prayers

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. - General Calendar of the Order of Preachers