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

JUSTICE IS TRUTH IN ACTION - HTTP://WWW.CINOPSBEGONEBLOGSPOT.COM - WED. FEB. 3, 2021 

 

THE LIFE OF BLESSED MARGARET CASTELLO, O.P.

Father William R. Bonneville O.P. Tan Books, Carolina, 2016 Chapter 4, p. 23-24

Chapter V - Margaret Exchanges Prisons

 

    One morning during her 13th year in prison, Margaret realized with a start that it was now some time since the wintry winds had been howling and screaming through the snow-laden trees of the forest, their place had been taken by soft gentle breezes. She became conscious of the excited gurgling of the mountain freshets created by the melting snow, and she inhaled the fragrant aroma of the pine trees which came stealing into her cell, as is to share into her imprisonment. 

    But above all, it was the lusty singing of countless thrushes which filled the her heart to overflowing, for the birds seemed to be telling her how they burned back from the south, as soon as the weather permitted, to be with their little blind friend.

 

    To Margaret it was God who was talking to her through the many voices of nature, and she was deeply moved by these delicate attentions of her Divine Lover. But this particular year the annual miracle of nature's reawakening to life was destined to bring pleasure to Margaret for only a brief time. Indeed, not many weeks had passed since the return of the birds when abruptly the warning came that new sufferings were at hand.

    At first it was very faint. Even the blind girl, who relied so much on her sense of hearing, could catch it only when the wind was right. It sounded as if it were the town bell of Sant' Angelo in Vado, far to the north; but if so , why was it ringing so soon after Terce? a vague uneasiness crept into Margaret's thoughts. 

 

    The meaning of the bell was soon made clear. The sharp eyes of the watchman in the castle of Metola saw smoke rising in the distance from burning farmhouses toward the border of Massa Trabaria; he shouted down to Messer Leonardo what he saw, and the next moment the huge castle bell began to shriek its message: Massa Ttrabaria was being invaded! 

    To the trembling prisoner it seemed as if the frenzied bell would never stop it harsh refrain. Tears came to her eyes as she thought of all the sin and misery that invariably accompanied war , then the thought blazed into her mind which filled her with cold horror. Her father! He was Captain of the people! Ir would be his duty to lead the Massa Trabarians against the invaders! He might be taken prisoner, or wounded, or killed! The frightened girl fell to her knees, and with tears streaming down her cheeks, earnestly implored God to save her country from its enemies, ant watch over the safety or her father. 

 

    The alarm given by Messer Leonardo had hardly ended when a courier arrived from the State Council informing Parisio that the land was being invaded by Montefeltro of Urbino. The castle was already a scene of feverish preparations. Parisio, now in full control as supreme commander, was sending messengers throughout the land to call all serfs to report at once for feudal military duty, Anyone who refused this call was to be forthwith hanged as a warning to others. The younger soldiers of the garrison at Metola were notified to get ready for immediate departure; the old soldiers would remain to guard the castle.

 

    While Parisio's squire was helping him to don his hauberk and fasten the sword to his belt, the Captain continued to issue orders. The storehouse in the bailey was to be opened and weapons were to be distributed to the serfs as they arrived. The seneschal was to search the nearby mountains and seize all the grain and livestock from the farmers for the army.

 

    As soon as all necessary orders had been issued, the Captain hurried to his wife's apartment. He found her standing at the arched window, gazing apprehensively at the distant, ominous columns of smoke. "Is the  situation very serious?" she asked anxiously. "Yes," Montefeltro has crossed the eastern border with a strong force. You had better pack what you need and go to Mercatello as soon as possible." "Are you going about to abandon the fort, Parisio?"...George H. Kubeck