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The Life of Blessed Margaret of Castello, 1287-1320
Hunchback, midget, blind, lame and ugly. Walled in next to a chapel for 14 years; abandoned by her parents at a shrine, she grew in virtue and fame. Her body remains incorrupt. One of the most inspiring stories we have ever read!
128 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1983
14 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
About the author
William R. Bonniwell
9 books1 followerFather William R. Bonniwell, O.P., spent a large part of his life as a Dominican priest and scholar. He was ordained in 1914 and went on to become the Director of the Preachers' Institute at Washington, D.C. He also spent a considerable amount of time in Italy while gathering information on Blessed Margaret of Castello, which he eventually published in his book The Life of Blessed Margaret of Castello. Father Bonniwell is also the author of Liturgical Spirit of Lent, History of the Dominican Liturgy, Interpreting Sunday Mass, What Think You of Christ?, and Martyrology of the Sacred Order of Preachers. He died in 1984 after nearly suffering blindness.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
July 29, 2016
After reading this book you never have the right to complain about ANYTHING...................EVER AGAIN.
The story of the most powerful life I have ever read about.
(Wikipedia)
Blessed Margaret of Castello (1287–1320) is an Italian Roman Catholic Church patron of the poor, crippled, and the unwanted. She was born blind, lame, deformed, hunchbacked and a midget, into a family of nobles in the castle of Metola, in southeast of Florence. As a child, her parents Parisio and Emilia imprisoned her for 14 years so no one would see her, though she could attend Mass and receive the sacraments. Her parents took her to the tomb of a holy man named Fra Giacomo, where miracles were reportedly being wrought, at Citta di Castello to pray for a cure for her birth defects. When no miracle happened, they abandoned her. She lived in prayer and charity, helping the poor. 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.
The story of the most powerful life I have ever read about.
(Wikipedia)
Blessed Margaret of Castello (1287–1320) is an Italian Roman Catholic Church patron of the poor, crippled, and the unwanted. She was born blind, lame, deformed, hunchbacked and a midget, into a family of nobles in the castle of Metola, in southeast of Florence. As a child, her parents Parisio and Emilia imprisoned her for 14 years so no one would see her, though she could attend Mass and receive the sacraments. Her parents took her to the tomb of a holy man named Fra Giacomo, where miracles were reportedly being wrought, at Citta di Castello to pray for a cure for her birth defects. When no miracle happened, they abandoned her. She lived in prayer and charity, helping the poor. 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.
February 20, 2021
Outstanding book. Very well-written and easy to read. Everyone should read this! Very inspiring.
The extreme sufferings that Margaret endured are mind-boggling - and she bore them all cheerfully and continually added to her sacrifices throughout her life. As another reviewer stated: After reading this book, you realize that you don't have the right to complain about anything ever again!
I wish someone could explain to me how an incorrupt person of such holiness who has more than 200 documented miracles attributed to her...how can that person NOT be a saint? why hasn't she been canonized?! She was working miracles while she was alive, she levitated often in prayer, just hours after her death her arm reached out and cured a girl who was lame and mute (witnessed by a crowd). I don't understand why she hasn't been declared a saint yet.
The extreme sufferings that Margaret endured are mind-boggling - and she bore them all cheerfully and continually added to her sacrifices throughout her life. As another reviewer stated: After reading this book, you realize that you don't have the right to complain about anything ever again!
I wish someone could explain to me how an incorrupt person of such holiness who has more than 200 documented miracles attributed to her...how can that person NOT be a saint? why hasn't she been canonized?! She was working miracles while she was alive, she levitated often in prayer, just hours after her death her arm reached out and cured a girl who was lame and mute (witnessed by a crowd). I don't understand why she hasn't been declared a saint yet.
March 5, 2024
What a fantastic Saint! A truly inspiring story to all and how we should be thankful for our sufferings in this life to bring us closer to God. St Margaret pray for us
September 22, 2024
⭐️4.5
Blessed Margaret of Castello is truly a saint for our times! Now, as we live in a culture of death, Blessed Margaret’s pro-life story will inspire us to protect the dignity of every human being. Blessed Margaret of Castello, pray for us!
Blessed Margaret of Castello is truly a saint for our times! Now, as we live in a culture of death, Blessed Margaret’s pro-life story will inspire us to protect the dignity of every human being. Blessed Margaret of Castello, pray for us!
June 7, 2021
Amazing (heroic) person, happy to have a new heavenly friend. St. Margaret pray for us!
January 17, 2013
Summary: The Life of Blessed Margaret of Castello, a hunchback, blind, young woman who lived a life of virtue.
Why I Read This: My patron for the year is Bld. Margaret of Castello, so I wanted to learn more about her.
Review: I loved this book. It's probably because I loved the terrible story of Blessed Margaret of Castello. It's a terrible story, but she rose above such terrible circumstances -- birth defects, unloving parents who imprisoned and abandoned her, abject poverty, rejections from a religious order -- to become one with God. There's so much in her story that I relate to, which seems impossible, but there's a reason that God led me to her.
Why I Read This: My patron for the year is Bld. Margaret of Castello, so I wanted to learn more about her.
Review: I loved this book. It's probably because I loved the terrible story of Blessed Margaret of Castello. It's a terrible story, but she rose above such terrible circumstances -- birth defects, unloving parents who imprisoned and abandoned her, abject poverty, rejections from a religious order -- to become one with God. There's so much in her story that I relate to, which seems impossible, but there's a reason that God led me to her.
March 6, 2013
My daughters (ages 9 and 11) and I read this book together at night before bed. It is just a little slow-starting but well worth it! It is extremely inspirational and very touching. The stories and miracles discussed are very touching. My daughters both liked it so much they re-read it and wrote book reports on it for school. Then their teachers and classmates wanted to borrow the book to read it. If only we could be like Margaret...there would be world peace! I believe she will be canonized! It is a great book!
February 7, 2018
An excellent biography of a holy woman! The cover describes her as "hunchback, midget, blind, lame and ugly." Her parents locked her up at 6 years old and later abandoned her. A beautiful account of God's grace in the most difficult circumstances.
March 7, 2024
Fun(ny) fact(s): I definitely read this book on the day that my paper was due, wrote two pages about Margaret of Castello, and then ended up taking them out.
Favorite quote/image: "In her meditations she had constantly reflected on the physical and mental agony of Christ, especially when He was dying on the Cross, abandoned by His disciples. It was as if the dying Savior said to her from the Cross: 'Margaret, will you, too, leave me?' Instantly the body was over...with head erect and the familiar smile on her lips, the homeless cripple went slowly tapping her way down the narrow street, ready for whatever God has in store for her." (pg. 61)
Honorable mention: "As she drew closer and closer to God, the flame of divine love burned more and more fiercely in her heart. It was because of this intense love that she rejoiced in her infirmities, that she cheerfully and joyously embraced every suffering...indeed, her joy in suffering was the expression of her boundless love of God and of her neighbor." (pg. 89)
Why: Although the traditional story of Margaret of Castello has definitely fallen into the stereotype of virtuous sufferer, her story is still one that demonstrates immense faith in God despite her physical suffering and social ostracization (even by her own family), and acts of charity to those suffering around her.
P.S. Although I decided to focus on Teresa de Cartagena and Margaret of Castello (formerly) in my paper, for those who are wondering about medieval women with disabilities who served the church, I have more names for you, including Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) who suffered from chronic illness and has been commonly retrospectively diagnosed with migraines as well as St. Fina of San Gimignano (1239-1253) who was paralyzed and St. Lidwina of Schiedam (1380-1433) with chronic pain and potential multiple sclerosis.
Favorite quote/image: "In her meditations she had constantly reflected on the physical and mental agony of Christ, especially when He was dying on the Cross, abandoned by His disciples. It was as if the dying Savior said to her from the Cross: 'Margaret, will you, too, leave me?' Instantly the body was over...with head erect and the familiar smile on her lips, the homeless cripple went slowly tapping her way down the narrow street, ready for whatever God has in store for her." (pg. 61)
Honorable mention: "As she drew closer and closer to God, the flame of divine love burned more and more fiercely in her heart. It was because of this intense love that she rejoiced in her infirmities, that she cheerfully and joyously embraced every suffering...indeed, her joy in suffering was the expression of her boundless love of God and of her neighbor." (pg. 89)
Why: Although the traditional story of Margaret of Castello has definitely fallen into the stereotype of virtuous sufferer, her story is still one that demonstrates immense faith in God despite her physical suffering and social ostracization (even by her own family), and acts of charity to those suffering around her.
P.S. Although I decided to focus on Teresa de Cartagena and Margaret of Castello (formerly) in my paper, for those who are wondering about medieval women with disabilities who served the church, I have more names for you, including Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) who suffered from chronic illness and has been commonly retrospectively diagnosed with migraines as well as St. Fina of San Gimignano (1239-1253) who was paralyzed and St. Lidwina of Schiedam (1380-1433) with chronic pain and potential multiple sclerosis.
September 23, 2021
Inspired once again by a film broadcast on EWTN, I discovered this excellent biography written by a priest and true believer in Margaret's sainthood. Born to wealthy parents expecting a son and heir, Lady and Lord Parisio were horrified by their blind and deformed daughter. Hidden away from the world in a dungeon for most of her early life, the girl was able to memorize hundreds of prayers recited to her by a priest. Abandoned to the streets at twenty, Margaret adapted to begging in the streets but eventually was accepted into a Dominican order. Miracles followed her until her death at thirty three. Father Boniwell's book is an inspirational and beautiful read.
January 20, 2022
This little four foot tall Italian girl humbles us in her sanctity. Despite all her physical and mental challenges she's experienced in her short life, they never stopped her from expressing the beauty of faith and completely submitting herself to serving our Lord when so many others (including myself) would have crumbled in self-pity and despair. Truly someone to look up to and follow in example of in our journey towards becoming saints ourselves.
May 9, 2021
An excellent short book telling the story of an amazing 14th century saint who remained cheerful and confident in God's love in the middle of terrible afflictions and the most atrocious behaviour of her parents and the religious sisters whom she joined.
June 13, 2021
A saint for our time (though are any saints not for our time?). Blessed Margaret of Castello's life would make a grand movie.
Book has simple cartoonish illustrations, which is always welcome. Well written and easy to read.
Book has simple cartoonish illustrations, which is always welcome. Well written and easy to read.
August 5, 2017
very good considering there is very little known about this saint. A bunch of us from church read it and we all enjoyed it.
April 12, 2021
I found this book very insightful and easy to follow! I am so blessed to live near the national shrine of Blessed Margaret of Castello, and I look forward to her canonization this September!!!
June 23, 2021
A good little book about a great little Saint! I will definitely have my kids read this one.
December 1, 2021
I really liked this book and am glad to say she is my confirmation patron.
January 7, 2025
Appallingly sad but true story from the Middle Ages when cruelty was apparently acceptable. Margaret had to have been truly inspiring.
December 5, 2019
92/100 (= 5.5/6) ≈ 5 Stars
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Incredible!! An incredible saint, extremely well written. Just amazing. We listened a while ago to a Regina Martyrum Productions version of her story, which was very similar (they most likely based their adaptation on this book..). Though rather short, the book includes lots of additional details compared to the audio story and is really worth the read. Would love to go see her incorrupt body!! What a saint!
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Incredible!! An incredible saint, extremely well written. Just amazing. We listened a while ago to a Regina Martyrum Productions version of her story, which was very similar (they most likely based their adaptation on this book..). Though rather short, the book includes lots of additional details compared to the audio story and is really worth the read. Would love to go see her incorrupt body!! What a saint!
April 28, 2023
Beautifully written
St . Margaret of Costello was and continues to be the epitome of what we should all be in life. Her joy for Our Lord’s love and service to Him was what she lived for daily, hourly—constantly. What a poor specimen of a man I am compared to this beautiful woman who suffered such limitations in life and still valued every one of those issues as a blessing. St. Margaret of Castello pray for us.
St . Margaret of Costello was and continues to be the epitome of what we should all be in life. Her joy for Our Lord’s love and service to Him was what she lived for daily, hourly—constantly. What a poor specimen of a man I am compared to this beautiful woman who suffered such limitations in life and still valued every one of those issues as a blessing. St. Margaret of Castello pray for us.
October 29, 2015
A story about perfect acceptance of God's will, and maintaining faith and joy despite terrible handicaps and appalling treatment, including imprisonment and abandonment by her parents. A good book to return to when one is tempted to despair or self-pity.
January 18, 2016
Awesome book. Believable details to fill out the amazing events, reiterating that a child with this sort of upbringing naturally would have become bitter and resentful, so that her very personality was a miracle in itself.
March 19, 2022
Well written and inspirational
Margaret lived The sermon on the Mount. She exemplified a life of returning good for evil and overcoming enmity with love and forgiveness. She sets the bar high in not giving in to self-pity or discouragement.
Margaret lived The sermon on the Mount. She exemplified a life of returning good for evil and overcoming enmity with love and forgiveness. She sets the bar high in not giving in to self-pity or discouragement.
January 8, 2011
Since there is not a lot known about Blessed Margaret of Castello. The author did a very fine job of telling us about her. A interesting story.
April 29, 2011
These people are so cruel to this poor little girl!! Amazing true story, highly suggest reading to all who are lost.
July 22, 2011
Handicapped saint who overcame child abuse, extreme disability and abandonment to answer the call to serve the poor including prisoners. A quick read too!
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August 5, 2017It was very good considering there is very little known about this saint
August 6, 2012
Heartbreaking story of a true inspirational woman. Abandoned....but was she really?
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews