#6 - A SERIOUS REPORT ON BLESSED MARGARET CASTELLO, O.P.

# 6 - A SERIOUS REPORT ON BLESSED MARGARET CASTELLO, O.P.

IN PURSUIT OF THE TRUTH - HTTP"//WWW.CINOPSBEGONEBLOGSPOT.COM - THURS. DEC. 3, 2020

 

THE LIFE OF BLESSED MARGARET CASTELLO, O.P. (1287-1320)

        By Father William R. Bonneville, O.P. Tan Books, Carolina 1 - The Castle of Metola, p. 5-6

 

    "His baptism! Parisio had not given that a thought! Yet, if his enemies informed Rome that that he, a Captain of the people in a Papal State, had failed to have his child baptized, it could easily mean the ruin of his plans. It was clever of his wife to have thought of that!

 

    Emilia went on: "We may just as well draw up now the list of guests and give it to the seneschal, so he can get the invitations ready. You had better instruct him to begin his preparation right away." When the seneschal  studied the list, his eyes widened. Not only were all the important people of Massa Trabaria to be invited, but even a number of dignatories from neighboring states. He began to realize that it would not be easy to carry out Parisio's order." "I want you to prepare the best feast ever given in Massa Trabaria. Do not dishonor my name by stinting in anything.."

 

    The feast of the castle would give the seneschal no trouble. Only the soldiers, the civilians in the fort, and the serfs on the estate would partake of it. For them, it would be enough to provide plenty of wine and an abundance of venison, pigs, ducks, rabbits and pastries. But the affair at Mercatello would require the very best!

 

    Although Parisio's wine cellar in town was well stocked, the seneschal thought it prudent to send a purveyor to Florence to purchase a tun (a medieval measure) of the very best wine (without whom no feast could be a success), and to buy several peacocks, to be served after after the various various meats. The peacocks would be a fitting climax! As he reviewed his menu, the seneschal smiled contentedly, The feast would indeed be worthy of the first-born son of Parisio! His Castellan would have no worry.

 

    As a matter of fact, the castellan was not worrying. His mind was dwelling on the more distant future, the career his vote will have in Italian politics. Ezzelino da Romano had shown what a soldier who feared either God nor man could accomplish! Ezzelino da Romano had shown what a soldier who feared neither God nor man could accomplish! A kingdom was to be had at the expense of the weaker Papal States, and Parisio determined he would lay the foundations of such a kingdom for his son.

 

    Everything he saw spoke to him of his dreams. One day he happened to pass the armorer's forge. He watched the skill of the armorer who was repairing a shield. "It wont be many years now, Paolo, before you'll be making a suit of armor for my son, eh?" he remarked. "Your Excellency, I'll make him the finest suit of armor in all Italy! boasted the armorer.

 

    Indeed everybody at Metola, including the half-starved serfs, who lived scattered throughout the forests, shared wholeheartedly their anticipation of their liege lord, but from very different motives. The birth of an heir meant not only an abundance of good food for several days, but also largesse from the Captain, and even music and entertainment! ....

 

    But the day on which the child was born, the castle bell remained silent; no flag fluttered proudly from the high tower, no herald on gaily-caparisoned horse thundered across the drawbridge to proclaim the news. There was no banquet, no entertainment, no largesse. That night instead of a castle ablaze with lights and resounding with noisy festivities, all was darkness and silence. 

silence and darkness were more suited to the despair and horror that crushed the hearts of Parisio and the Lady Emilia.

 

    The child was a girl. And the girl was dreadfully deformed.

 

George H. Kubeck