​Feast Day: April 13

Life Summary

St Margaret of Castello was born in the 13th century in Mercatello, Italy. Blind, hunchbacked, and with a leg deformity, she was kept hidden by her ashamed noble parents in a small cell attached to their home. When she was about sixteen, they took her to a shrine hoping for a miraculous cure—then abandoned her there when none came. Alone and without bitterness, Margaret was taken in by kind townspeople and eventually by the Dominican Order as a tertiary. She spent the rest of her life serving the poor, teaching children, and comforting prisoners and the sick. Her radiant joy and unwavering faith transformed hearts; she became known for her prayerfulness, humility, and deep compassion for anyone who suffered rejection. She died in 1320, beloved by her community, and was canonized in 2021 by Pope Francis.

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Reflection

Margaret’s life shows that even when the world turns away, God never does. She found belonging not in status or appearance but in Christ’s love—a love that saw her completely and made her whole. Her story calls us to see others with the same tenderness and to believe that God can bring beauty from every hidden place.

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Takeaway

​Even in hiddenness, God sees, loves, and calls us by name.