St. Margaret of Castello, by Evelyn Wagner

St. Margaret of Castello was born in Metola, Italy, in 1287. To the dismay of her parents, she was born a hunchback, could barely walk, and was blind. Her parents were wealthy and only cared about their social status, so they secluded her from society and tried to keep her a secret. But when she was six years old, a guest found out that she existed. Her father built a room with no doors in order that no one to ever see her again.

The room was on the other side of a chapel so Margaret could hear the Mass being offered. She received communion and food to eat through a window. The parish priest became her good friend and talked to her through the window. He was stunned by her spiritual wisdom. Margaret stayed in the room until she was sixteen years old.

Margaret’s parents knew of a shrine in Citta di Castello, Italy. The shrine was known to be a place where many sick and deformed people were cured. They took Margaret there in hopes to make her look normal but God’s will was not to have Margaret cured. Sadly her parents, seeing that she wasn’t cured, left her in Castello on the streets. The only way she got food or money was from a good samaritan.

Thankfully, people of the village took her in and helped her. She was passed from house to house as the people gave what little extra they had to help her. “A homeless beggar being practically adopted by the poor of a city” (Bonniwell, 1955).

Eventually, St. Margaret became a member of the Dominican Third Order of Castello and lived with them until her death.

She died at age 33 in the year 1320. Throughout St. Margaret’s life, she learned to live in solitude and to trust in God because she was alone for a long part of it. She forgave her parents for their horrible treatment towards her, and her cheerfulness drew people to her, especially the poor kind people of Castello. Even from heaven she is still helping and praying for us. More than 200 miracles have happened through her intercession since her death.

St. Margaret was beatified in 1609 and, 412 years later, she was finally canonized a saint in 2021 by Pope Francis. She is the patron saint of the disabled, the blind, the unwanted, and the pro-life movement. Her feast day is April 13.

Catholics and Gambling, by Emma Bidelspach

Gambling is playing a game of chance to win some thing, typically money. Yes, Catholics can gamble, but the Catholic Church warns of the extent of which you can gamble without sinning. Gambling for entertainment, like only spending a small amount of money, say ten dollars, and failing to win is similar to watching a movie for ten dollars.

The Church teaches that gambling at low stakes is acceptable, like playing a card game to win a piece of chocolate. The Catechism states: “Games of chance (card games, etc.) or wagers are not in themselves contrary to justice. They become morally unacceptable when they deprive someone of what is necessary to provide for his needs and those of others. The passion for gambling risks becoming an enslavement. Unfair wagers and cheating at games constitute grave matter, unless the damage inflicted is so slight that the one who suffers it cannot reasonably consider it significant,” (CCC 2413).

This means when you gamble in extreme measures it deprives you of what you or your family may need. Gambling is not sinful when done respectfully and responsibly.

The Green Scapular, by Benjamin Cabeen

The Green Scapular is a Roman Catholic Devotional item. It is two pieces of green cloth with two stings connecting them. One of the squares is worn on the front and the other on the back. Green Scapulars can be made of any type of material cloth.

The Green Scapular was given to Sister Justine Bisqueyburu by the Blessed Virgin Mary in France in 1840 AD, almost 600 years after the Brown Scapular was given to Saint Simon Stock. The Green Scapular must be blessed by a priest before worn or carried. The Green Scapular also has special promises that were given by Our Lady if you wear the Green Scapular or hold it. Known as “The Scapular of Conversion,” the Green Scapular’s Promises are the strengthening of faith, protection against Satan, a happy death (Only for Catholics), and for conversion for all those outside the church. The Green scapular can be carried by anyone, Catholic or not. The Green Scapular is known for the healing miracles that have happened with it. Because you do not have to be catholic to wear a Green Scapular, there are a lot of false things that are attributed to the Green Scapular. Some of these include, “The Magical Green Scapular,” or “This Scapular will protect your family from sickness.” The Green scapular is a powerful object in as much as it is a blessed object, not in the way that some people think about it.

Next week I will write about the Red Scapular of the Passion of Our Lord.

A Short Catholic Argument Against Videogames, by Thomas M. Cabeen

Videogames. This form of digital entertainment is a much-debated topic among Catholics. In this argument, I will not argue against only the games that demonstrate and promote evil, but videogames in general. I believe that the essence and nature of the videogame, while not in itself bad, is a lesser good when compared to other forms of entertainment.

The purpose of the videogame is to entertain, and the way videogames entertain is through a purely artificial environment. This artificiality is one of the best arguments against the videogame, for while studies have indeed shown that videogames increase reaction time and dexterity, the same results can be achieved through learning an instrument or a sport. In a sport, though, one is interacting with the real environment, which has its own benefits. One does not feel the grass, smell the air, cheer their team on, or test their physical strength by looking at a picture of a soccer pitch and a soccer player. By playing an instrument one learns an art, which is a very desirable thing; by playing a videogame, one learns to press a button with precision, which is not the same as an art. On top of that videogames do not offer the same reward as playing a difficult piece well or shooting a three pointer does. This is the difference between the entertainment offered by videogames and the arts or sports: more good is achieved through the arts and sports. And does not everyone want the most amount of good from all their endeavors?

In conclusion, my reason against videogames is that there are better, more fulfilling things to do then stare at a screen, even if the game is educational. Videogames in moderation are fine, but not many have ever thought, after never playing any videogames and living a full, Christian life, that they missed out on a great good. So I encourage you, if you spend a lot of time on your Xbox or whatever, to cut down on that time, if not altogether cut it out, pick up a football, and play catch with your brother.

Good News Team and Contributors

Editor in Chief: Thomas M. Cabeen

Co-President: Ryan Hanson

Webmaster: Benjamin Wells

Contributors: Avery Bidelspach, Emma Bidelspach, Evelyn Wagner, Benjamin Wells, Alex Hanson, Gabriel Ringwald, Ryan P. Hanson, Mary Catherine Vallejo

Poet: Benjamin Cabeen

Head of Distribution: Benjamin Cabeen

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