Reclaiming Our Children: A Blog About Healing After Abortion

Today is the memorial of Blessed Margaret of Castello, patron of the unwanted. In so many ways she is an model to many aspects of the pro life movement.

Born blind, lame and a hunchbacked midget, her parents, who were nobles locked her up so no one could see her. The priest would visit her and teach her about God and the only things she was allowed to do were attend mass and the sacraments. It was all she needed.

After many years of being locked up, her parents took her to a church to pray for a cure and when it did not happen they abandoned her there. She spent the rest of her life ministering to others and many miracles are attributed to her.

A more detailed view of her life can be found here but, I also highly recommend the book "The  Life of Blessed Margaret of Castello"

As someone abandoned by her parents when I was a teen because of a pregnancy, I developed great devotion to her. She suffered greatly and yet never said a bad word about her parents even though she was treated so cruelly. She relied on God alone and loved as He asked her to. So many women are abandoned before they have an abortion and Margaret is a great model for forgiveness.

She also was unwanted. This is a question many siblings of aborted babies struggle with along with the feeling of not deserving to live. Margaret is a great  example of the dignity of each life and their value in the eyes of God.

In our day and age adverse diagnosis often brings with it abortion. There is also no question Margaret would have been a candidate for abortion because of her disabilities, yet God once again, shows us so much by the example of her life.

I could go on and on, but I encourage you to read the book and see for yourself!

Thank you God for the example of Blessed Margaret of Castello who teaches us so much about the dignity of life and our value in your eyes!

O God by whose Will
The blessed virgin, Margaret,
Was blind from birth,
That the eyes of her mind
Being inwardly enlightened
She might think without ceasing
On You alone;
Be the light of our eyes,
That we may be able
To flee the shadows in this world,
And reach the home
Of never-ending light.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Blessed Margaret of Castello, pray for us!