# 14 - A SERIOUS REPORT ON BLESSED CASTELLO, O.P.
JUSTICE IS TRUTH IN ACTION - HTTP://WWW.CINOPSBEGONEBLOGSPOT.COM - WED. FEB. 10, 2021
THE LIFE OF BLESSED MARGARET CASTELLO, O.P.
Father William R. Bonneville O.P. Tan Books, Carolina, 2016 Chapter 4, p. 24-26
Her Father! He was Captain of the People! It 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 his knees and with tears streaming down her cheeks, earnestly implored God to save her country from its enemies, and to watch over the safety of her father...
As soon as all necessary orders had been issued, the Captain hurried to his wife's apartment. He found her standing at the arch 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 to abandon the fort, Parisio?" "No, but I am obliged to take the best soldiers. I was you to go to Mercatello; it is well fortified and strongly garrisoned. You'll be much safer there."
Lady Emilio's eyes lighted up with joy. Life at Mercatello would be far more pleasant than at the fortress. She turned to summon her waiting-maid, when a thought struck her.
"Parisio! What about Margaret?" "You will have to take the little freak with you," the castellan answered impatiently. "We cannot leave her here, as enemy patrols will be scouting through the forests and they would find her."
"But it will be impossible to conceal her in Mercatello! Our house will be overrun with visitors!"
"Have you forgotten that there are vaults under the palazzo? Lock her up in one of those."
"But she will want to attend Mass and receive the Sacraments."
Parisio exploded. His nerves were on edge at the thought that he would be facing on the battlefield one of the ablest military leaders of the day. He exclaimed angrily: "Then take your dear daughter to the town piazza at high noon and introduce her to everybody! You may as well do that as to allow the garrulous old rector of the cathedral to learn of her existence. She is not to leave the the underground vaults and she is to have no visitors."
Parisio strode out of the room and hurried to the courtyard where the soldiers were awaiting him. Placing himself at their head, he rode out of the castle. The next morning, Lady Emilia and her attendants left the castle and took with them a small, heavily-veiled girl.
After thirteen years of imprisonment, Margaret left her cell, but should soon learn that she was being transferred to another prison. When the party reached Mercatello, Lady Emilia had her daughter quickly led down the stone steps of the palazzo to an underground vault, which had been hastily prepared for the girl. The furnishings consisted of a miserable pallet and an old bench. There was no other furniture in the vault. Then, as if to conform to the custom in most jails, she was briefed on the regulation of her new prison. Food would be brought to her twice a day; if there was anything she wanted, she was to wait until mealtime to state here wants. Under no circumstances was she to call out; at all times she was to preserve absolute quiet. When the rules had been stated, the heavy wooden door of the vault was slammed shut, the bolts were shot into their sockets, and Margaret once more found herself alone.
Here at Mercatello, Margaret suffered more intensely than ever before. During her long captivity at Metola she had been sustained by the consolations and helps of her religion - Mass, the sacraments of Penance and Holy Eucharist, the visits and encouragement of the chaplain. Now, at one stroke, she was deprived of all this, and the void it created plunged her soul into agony...
But although Margaret was severely tried by the ordeal, her faith and courage enabled her to emerge victorious. But she would need even greater and greater courage for the tragedy that was approaching her. George H. Kubeck
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