Contents
- 1 St. Margaret of Scotland – Saints & Angels
- 2 Saint Margaret of Scotland
- 3 About our Patron, St Margaret of Scotland – St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church Baton Rouge
- 4 Meet the patron of large families, Margaret of Scotland
- 5 Patron Saints for Girls – The Life of Saint Margaret of Scotland
- 6 St. Margaret of Scotland
- 7 Saint Margaret of Scotland
- 8 St. Margaret of Scotland
St. Margaret of Scotland – Saints & Angels
Princess Agatha of Hungary and English Prince Edward the Exile had a daughter named St. Margaret of Scotland, or Margaret of Wessex, who was born in Hungary to Princess Agatha of Hungary and English Prince Edward the Exile about 1045. Cristina and Edgar the Atheling, her two younger siblings, were also born in Hungary during this time period. As a 10-year-old child, Margaret and her family returned to England, and her father was summoned back to the country as a prospective heir to the British throne.
After William the Conqueror’s victory at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, Margaret’s family was forced to flee from England.
According to legend, Agatha made the decision to leave Northumbria and return to Europe, but her family’s ship was lost in a storm on the way.
The location where they landed is today referred to as “St.
He quickly fell in love with the beautiful and gentle princess and spent the rest of his life with her.
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- Help Now Six sons and two daughters were born to them as a result of their union.
- They lived as if they were a holy family, a household church.
- She was instrumental in calming his fury and assisting him in becoming a noble King of Scotland.
- Margaret was appointed to oversee all domestic issues, and she was frequently consulted on topics pertaining to the state.
- She supported the formation of Church synods and was actively involved in attempts to remedy religious abuses involving bishops, priests, and laypeople.
- She worked tirelessly to alleviate the plight of the impoverished in Scotland.
She contributed to the construction of churches, notably the Abbey of Dunfermline, which houses a relic of the real Cross.
The hours she set out specifically for prayer and Scripture reading were important to her.
She lived a life of sanctity as a wife, mother, and laywoman, and she was completely devoted to Jesus Christ.
One of these beautifully painted volumes, a gospel book with pictures of the four evangelists, is currently housed at the Bodleian Library in Oxford, where it was miraculously found from a river after being lost for centuries.
Margaret died on November 16, 1093, just four days after her husband, having become unwell and exhausted from a life of austerity and fasting.
Her corpse was laid to rest in front of the high alter in Dunfermline.
She was recognized for her contributions to the reform of the Church as well as her personal piety.
In 1560, Mary Queen of Scots obtained custody of Margaret’s head, which she kept for herself.
She maintained that it, as well as Margaret’s prayers from above, had assisted her in giving birth to her kid.
Her head subsequently wound up in the possession of the Jesuits at the Scots’ College in Douai, France, but was lost during the Revolutionary War in France. Scottish patron saint St. Margaret has a feast day on November 16th, which is observed as St. Margaret’s Day.
Saint Margaret of Scotland
HomePolitics, Law, and Governance Leaders of the worldQueens of the world (Born c. 1045, most likely in Hungary—died November 16, 1093, Edinburgh; canonized 1250; feast day November 16, Scottish feast day June 16), queen consort of Malcolm III Canmore and Patrician of Scotland (died c. 1093, Edinburgh; canonized 1250; feast day November 16, Scottish feast day June 16). Margaret was raised in the Hungarian court, where her father, Edward (son of Edmund Ironside), was in exile and her mother, Margaret, was at home.
- Edgar the Aetheling, Margaret’s brother and a defeated pretender to the English throne, joined them at the castle.
- A total of eight children were born to them: six sons and two daughters, who were all brought up in the Roman Catholic faith.
- Through her influence over her husband and his court, she supported the interests of the church as well as the interests of the English populace who had been subjugated by the Scots in the previous century, in accordance with the Gregorian reform.
- In 1250, Pope Innocent IV declared her to be a saint.
About our Patron, St Margaret of Scotland – St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church Baton Rouge
It was for her care for and ministry to the poor, the orphaned, widowed, and sick that St. Margaret of Scotland was canonized. She is honored as our patron because of her compassion for and service to these groups of people. Building schools and hospitals was a priority for her, and she spent time each day in the outer court of the castle, where she reigned as queen with her husband, Malcolm III, listening to the concerns of the people she served. The witness of Margaret has been carried through through the history of this parish.
Margaret’s mission to be Christ’s witness in the world.
Margaret’s Early Life
Margaret, an English princess, was born in Hungary in the year 1047, according to historical records. Her father Edward and his brother Edmond Ironsides, sons of Edmond Ironsides and aspirants to the English throne, had been banished from their homeland by King Knut. Edward and his wife Agatha had three children: Margaret, Christina, and Edgar, all of whom survived to adulthood. A few years after King Stephen (966-1036) Christianized Hungary, he established a uniform code of laws and is said to have administered them with great fairness and justice.
- It was a court that was only a few years removed from the influence of King Stephen.
- Margaret and her family moved from Hungary to her father’s hometown when she was approximately seven years old.
- Margaret spent the second half of her youth in the severe religious milieu of another court, that of Edward the Confessor, where she developed a strong religious belief system.
- In January 1066, Edward the Confessor passed away.
- In the popular account, their ship was buffeted by a fierce storm on its route back to Hungary, which pushed them north and back into the British Isles, where they were wrecked off the coast of Scotland.
- When the exiles arrived on Scottish soil, they were greeted with open arms by King Malcolm III of Scotland.
- The majority of historians agree that Margaret intended to enter a convent before fleeing England.
However, once she had departed, it was likely imperative to her family that she form an alliance through marriage. Margaret and Malcolm were married on the first Sunday after Easter in the year 1070, marking the beginning of a union whose devotion would go down in history as the stuff of myth.
Queen and Reformer
The majority of what we know about Margaret’s life as Queen of Scotland comes from a biography written by Turgot, her confessor, at the request of Margaret’s daughter Matilda. Turgot was Margaret’s confessor throughout her reign as Queen of Scotland. Margaret was a mother of eight children who died while they were young. The readings for the Lesser Feasts and Fasts of the Episcopal Church are dedicated to Mary for her example as a wife, mother, and ruler, among other things. It is clear from Turgot’s biography that she was concerned about her children and their religious training.
In his book, Turgot explains that this was the mother’s desire and admonition, and that her prayer, which she uttered day and night with tears for her children, was that they would acknowledge the Maker in the faith that works through love; that they would acknowledge and worship the Maker; that they would worship the Maker; that they would love Him in all things and above all things; and that they would attain to the glory of the heavenly kingdom.
- One of Margaret’s most noteworthy reforms was her achievement in bringing the practices of the Scottish church, which was still influenced by Celtic Christianity at the time, into line with those of the Roman Catholic Church.
- As a result of the Synod of Whitby in 664, when England chose to adhere to Roman Catholicism rather than Celtic Christianity, the division between the two churches had become a matter of political as well as spiritual significance.
- In particular, one of her reforms dealt with acknowledging the vital role played by the Eucharist in the lives of believers.
- Margret’s approach is described by Turgot in a way that is arguably more dramatic than it is factual.
- No one, then, should be allowed to accept it, for there is no one who is not tainted by sin, not even the child whose life on this planet is but a single day.
- Turgot says, “They were unable to respond to these reasons, and, having gained a knowledge of the rituals of the Church, they observed them from that point forward in the receipt of the mystery of salvation.”
Good Works
Margaret is known for her deeds of generosity and mercy throughout her life. She was instrumental in the establishment of schools, hospitals, and orphanages. People flocked to her as she walked or rode out in the street, and no one left her without having been soothed. And after she had distributed everything she had brought with her for the benefit of the poor, she used to collect from her attendants and the wealthy who accompanied her their garments and whatever else they happened to have with them at the time, to give to the poor in order that she would not be abandoned (except, perhaps, her courtiers).
- Margaret is credited with establishing the tradition of instructing and hiring women to create needlework for the church, which continues today.
- Copes for the cantors, chasubles, stoles, altar cloths, as well as other priestly vestments and church decorations, could always be seen in it at any time.
- Additionally, Margaret is given credit for the establishment of a lunchtime tradition that is being practiced today in Scotland.
- So that they would be available to hear her say the grace after meals as well as before, she established the custom of the Grace Cup, also known as St.
- Following the dinner, a special cup of wine was passed around.
- The ritual of drinking from the Grace Cup is still practiced in Scotland today, albeit it is more commonly associated with Scotch whiskey than with wine.
- She offered them to a beggar who had approached her and asked for money.
- Because of her own personal experience with exile, Margaret felt particularly sympathetic to individuals who had been forced to depart their own nations, and in particular to English prisoners who had been taken away from their homeland and subjugated to servitude.
Margaret’s Death
In 1093, Margaret, who was ill and dying, sought refuge in Edinburgh Castle during a period of turmoil. When she died, one of her final acts was to recite Psalm 51–Miserere mei, Deus, which means “Have pity on me, O God, according to your loving-kindness,” while clutching a cross known as the Black Rood of Scotland, which she had always held close to her heart. The moment she had done reciting it, her son Edgar, who had survived the war in which his father and brother had been murdered, came to her bedside and attempted to reassure his dying mother that his father and brother were OK.
The moment she realized what was going on, she raised her hands and eyes to heaven, saying, “I give praise and thanks to thee, almighty God,” for having been pleased that I should suffer such deep sorrow at my departure, and I trust that it has been their pleasure that I should be cleansed of some of the stains of my sins as a result of this suffering.
- The Pope, Innocent IV, canonized Mary in 1249, and her bones were relocated to a new shrine at the east end of the monastery the next year.
- In Scottish history, Margaret’s Black Rood, sometimes known as a cross, became one of the most venerated things in the country’s regalia.
- Margaret is frequently shown in art as carrying the Black Cross as she goes about her deeds of mercy, and this is a common representation.
- For many years, it was on display at Durham Cathedral for reverence, but it was destroyed during the Reformation and never recovered.
Margaret’s Legacy
Margaret was hailed as a saint virtually from the moment she passed away. Pilgrims were flocking to Dumferline Abbey in greater numbers each year. The number of miraculous stories grew exponentially. Pope Innocent II granted her canonization when Alexander II of Scotland and his bishops petitioned him. Even while the canonization may have been approved as a gesture of acknowledgment for Scotland’s geopolitical significance or as a concession to an infuriating monarch in the 13th century, the respect for Margaret in Scotland was extremely substantial during that time period.
- She was a perfect fit for the requirements of the church in the nineteenth century.
- Another factor that may have contributed to her popularity was her connection to a romantic Scottish/Celtic past that had been promoted by Sir Walter Scott’s works and Queen Victoria’s patronage.
- It is possible that Margaret’s effect on her husband Malcolm will continue to have an impact on us in the twenty-first century, as described by Turgot in his depiction of Margaret’s influence on her husband Malcolm.
- He also learned to pray throughout the vigils of the night from her; via her exhortation and example, he learnt to pray with a sigh from the heart and an abundance of tears.
Because he had a clear understanding that Christ was actually residing in her heart, he moved even more rapidly to comply with her requests and to follow her cautious advise. That whatever she denied, he refused; and that which she loved, he loved for the sake of her love.
The Collects (Prayers) for St. Margaret’s Day, November 16
O God, you elevated your servant Margaret to an earthly throne in so that she may further your heavenly kingdom, and you instilled in her a fervor for the Church and a love for you and your people. Allow us to be productive in good deeds and to get to the magnificent crown of your saints, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit on God’s throne for ever and ever. AMENO God, you have given your servant Margaret such loyalty as Queen of Scotland that she has cared for the destitute and met the needs of those who are imprisoned.
We ask that you grant us the same dedication, whatever the service to which you call us, so that we may be agents of your justice and faithful servants of your kindness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit as one God now and for all time; AMEN
Meet the patron of large families, Margaret of Scotland
In the year 1066, a dispossessed English princess by the name of Margaret sought sanctuary in the Scottish Highlands. Even before she was born, her father had been ousted by the Danes and had fled to exile in Denmark. Even though she was still a child, Margaret traveled back to England to reside at the court of her great-uncle, King Edward the Confessor. Edward was a weak leader who was unable to safeguard his realm. Margery’s mother, Agatha, gathered Margaret and her other two children, Edgar and Cristina, and fled north to avoid the Norman invaders who had invaded the country.
- William of Normandy, often known as William the Conqueror, succeeded him as King of England.
- A violent storm, on the other hand, forced their ship north to Scotland, where they landed at a location that is now known as St.
- They were all there at the palace of King Malcolm before they knew it.
- Malcolm III was already a widower with two boys when he met his wife.
- Margaret was not only naturally nice and charming, but she was also a religious and devoted Catholic, which made her much more endearing.
- When Margaret married her new husband, one of the first things she did was read him a chapter from the Bible.
- More information may be found at: Praying the Lectio Divina as a Couple: A Lectio Divina for Lovers Margaret began ecclesiastical reforms with the goal of bringing the practices of the church into line with those of the Roman Catholic Church.
The charity activity that Margaret became actively involved in led to her serving orphans and the needy every morning before she ate her own breakfast.
She would wake up and go to church at twelve o’clock in the morning.
Margaret was also responsible for the reconstruction of the abbey at Iona, as well as the freeing of other English exiles who had been imprisoned during the conquest of Ireland.
She was really “authentic.” The majority of her time was spent in prayer, devotional readings, and ecclesiastical stitching, all of which she enjoyed.
The king, who was unable to read, was so taken with his bride that he had her prayer books lavishly embellished with gold and silver.
Malcolm was never able to comprehend the long-term consequences of his wife’s numerous undertakings.
Margaret, on the other hand, experienced heartbreak out of the blue.
Margaret’s son Edgar was tasked with the terrible responsibility of alerting his mother of the news.
Margaret was canonized by Pope Innocent IV in June of 1250 in honor of her personal sanctity, dedication to the Church, implementation of ecclesiastical reform, and on-going charitable activities.
He is blessed because she brings him only good and not harm all the days of her life.” King Malcolm III of Scotland was married to a woman like her.
St. Margaret of Scotland, intercede on our behalf. More information:Catholicism is on pace to overtake Islam as the most popular religion in Scotland.
Patron Saints for Girls – The Life of Saint Margaret of Scotland
Margaret Ironside was the granddaughter of Edmond Ironside and the great-grandniece of Saint Edward the Confessor, whose feast day is celebrated on the fifth of January in the Church of England. Let us take a look at the condition of circumstances in England at the time of her birth in order to have a better understanding of her life. It was in 1017 when Edmond was slain, and Canute, the king of Denmark, took advantage of the situation to murder him. He devised a plan to have himself declared ruler of the whole kingdom of England.
- He discreetly dispatched the two princes, whose names were Edward and Edmond, to the country of Sweden.
- As a result, the king of Sweden dispatched Edward and Edmond to the court of Hungary, where they were greeted with great honors, and the monarch of that kingdom agreed to educate them both in a way consistent with their birth.
- Edward, his brother, married Agatha, the sister of the queen of Hungary, and they had two children.
- She became the mother of Edgar, Christina, who took up the monastic life, and Margaret, about whom we will talk in the next section of this article.
- The English crown was passed on to Saint Edward, the kinsman of our Saint, by Harold and Hardicanute, who reigned for just a brief time before being deposed by Harold.
- He greeted them with every imaginable symbol of honor and devotion when they arrived in London in A.D.
After the deaths of both the king and the prince whom he had summoned from Hungary, Edgar naturally ascended to the throne of Saint Edward; however, because he was still a minor and had been born in a foreign country, these circumstances were used as an excuse to remove him from the throne and place it on the head of Harold of Hungary.
- The Duke of Normandy, William, established a similar pretense.
- A large number of English people came out in support of Edgar, but it was all for naught.
- Having finally been forced to flee from the tyranny of William the Conqueror, he boarded a ship that had been wrecked by a storm off the coast of Scotland, along with his sister, Margaret, and set off for England.
- He felt even more compelled to behave in this manner since he had before found himself in a predicament similar to theirs.
- William’s forces were forced to sign a treaty of peace, with one of the terms being that William treat Edgar as if he were a friend.
- The most amazing thing about Margaret was that she remained calm and composed during all of her heartbreaking trials, and we will now recount some of the innumerable qualities that earned her the adoration of the whole Scottish country throughout her time in exile.
- She despised worldly vanities and admired everything of its pomps and grandeur for what they were worth.
Because she was living only for Jesus Christ, it brought her great delight and solace to be able to speak with Him in the stillness of the tabernacles.
Him in his representatives, the poor, and took every opportunity to serve to their needs and alleviate their sufferings by all means necessary.
He offered that he and her be joined together by the ties of marriage.
She had only turned twenty-four years old at the time.
She was soon married and had two children.
Her actions and talks inspired the king to love and revere the maxims of the Gospel, and as a result of his education at Margaret’s court, Malcolm rose to become one of the most moral of all the Scottish rulers.
Although she was preoccupied with a variety of tasks, Queen Margaret maintained her mental clarity and prepared herself to face any threat of dissipation that could arise.
Her caution was a topic of discussion in Scotland, as well as in other nations, and it was one that all men enjoyed discussing.
Basically, nothing could have surpassed her knowledge when it came to carrying out the responsibilities that came with royal power.
She had a large family, all of whom were respectful to the people from whom they derived their dignity.
The first was married to Henry I of England, and the second was the wife of Eustace, count of Boulogne, and they had two children together.
Their individual reigns were characterised by intelligence, piety, and bravery in equal measure.
The young princes learnt at an early age, under the tutelage of such a religious mother, that genuine dignity and the greatest satisfaction that man can experience may be found in leading a virtuous lifestyle.
Meanwhile, she instilled a strong sense of vanity and emptiness in their minds by portraying virtue to them in all its splendor, filling them with a high sense of horror at sin, a great love for God, and a healthy fear of God’s punishment.
As a result, the men who raised her children were men who were impacted by the most sacred impulses of religion.
Their service as intermediaries for the distribution of her alms, and it was through their hands that she would often pour out the incense from her prayers at the foot of God’s throne.
Because she came to the smart conclusion that religion was the only guarantee for the exact fulfillment of duty, she was able to bar anyone from positions of trust simply because they lacked religious conviction.
Isn’t it true that religion brings with it every possible blessing in its wake?
This queen, who was so stately, so revered, and so strong, took pleasure in surrounding herself with orphans, elderly people, impoverished men, and destitute widowed women.
Besides loving the poor, whom she surrounded herself with because in them she saw representations of her Divine Master, Jesus Christ, she also revered them, falling at their feet and feeding them with the same meal that was brought to her own royal table, as she had done before.
Even complete strangers were made the recipients of Queen Margaret’s generosity and largesse.
Malcolm, who was deeply grateful to God for providing him with such a wonderful consort, cheerfully assisted her in carrying out all of her holy goals.
“All of the devout queen’s daily activities were scheduled according to specific hours.
Nothing could have surpassed the frugality of her diet; she ate simply to save herself from starving to death, and she avoided everything that might be considered sensuous.
How I admired her for having a spirit of compunction, which God had given her!
Her ardor was so intense on those occasions that she was unable to hold back the flood of tears that streamed from her eyes.
“There was never another recollected in the sacred temple.” The same author, when speaking of Malcolm, says the following about him: “He learned from Margaret how to spend the night in pious exercises on a regular basis.” While praying, it was truly amazing to witness the intensity with which this prince was praying; he possessed the spirit of compunction as well as the gift of tears in a degree far exceeding that of the average man living in the world.” According to another author, the queen inspired the king to carry out acts of justice and mercy, as well as to engage in the practice of the other virtues.
- She achieved great success in all of this as a result of the effect of God’s grace.
- As long as he knew that Jesus Christ resided in Margaret’s heart, he was always willing to heed her recommendations.
- Although the prince was aware that his job as a king required him to be well-versed in the art of war, he was also aware that he must remain vigilant in order to be constantly prepared to defend his people from the onslaught of their adversaries.
- This prince surprised the fortress of Alnwick, in Northumberland, and ordered the garrison to be put to the sword.
The English garrison finding itself pressed on all sides, and reduced to the last extremity, feigned a.surrender, and proposed that the king himself in person should come to receive the keys of the town; but the soldier who presented them on the point of his lance, seized the moment in which Malcolm was stretching out his hand, and basely dealt him a stroke in the eyes, of which he died.
Malcolm’s death took place in 1093, and his reign had lasted thirty-three years.
resignation to support her among all the disasters of which we have to write; but her virtue did not fail her, and like holy Job she exclaimed: “Lord, thou gavest them to me, and thou hast taken them away from me; may thy name be blessed!” When this information reached Margaret, she was sick in her bed and unable to move.
- As a result, Margaret looked to be depressed and reflective on the day the monarch was assassinated.
- She inquired as to the well-being of Edward and Malcolm.
- ‘I understand what you’re going through,’ Margaret said.
- “Having expressed a desire to speak with me in private,” Thierry continues, “she made a general confession about her entire life to me.” When she spoke, torrents of tears poured from her eyes at the sound of each word.
- Occasionally, sobs and tears suffocated our ability to speak, and neither of us could say anything without difficulty.
- You must follow me as quickly as possible.
In the presence of the Lord, who is the only witness to our dialogue, promise to grant me what I want.'” When she realized she was going to die, she redoubled her zeal and repeated these words over and over again: “Lord Jesus, who by thy death hast brought life to the world, free me from evil!” she thought to herself.
When her soul was finally freed from the bonds of her physical body, it happened on November 16, 1093, when she was in her forty-seventh year of age. She was canonized in 1251 by Pope Innocent IV, and her feast day was established in 1693 by Pope Innocent XII on the fifteenth of June.
St. Margaret of Scotland
The Church commemorates the feast day of St. Margaret, Queen of Scotland, which falls on November 16. Her feast day was formerly celebrated on June 10, but it was changed to November 16, the anniversary of her death, as part of the Church’s Lirutgical calendar reform in 2000. Some people continue to commemorate her feast on June 10, while many people, including the whole country of Scotland, celebrate her feast today. Margaret was born into royalty in Hungary in the year 1045, according to legend.
- Her family returned to England when she was ten years old, but the Norman Conquest compelled them to live in exile for the rest of their lives.
- They boarded a ship that sank off the coast of Scotland, where they remained for several months.
- Margaret’s religious beliefs had a significant impact on her husband’s reign throughout her time as queen.
- She elevated the court’s dignity by serving as a model of purity and devotion that inspired others to follow in her footsteps.
- Along with being a good wife and mother, Margaret worked diligently to bring justice and aid to the destitute of Scotland, and she was honored for her efforts.
- In her private life, she exemplified a high level of prayerfulness and religious observance.
- Margaret died in 1093, only four days after her husband and one of her sons were killed in combat, according to historical records.
Saint Margaret of Scotland
The Life and Times of Saint Margaret of Scotland Unlike many other women in history, Margaret of Scotland was fully free to express herself as she saw fit. For her, freedom meant being able to love God and serve others without hindrance. Margaret Atheling was born in Hungary and was the daughter of Princess Agatha of Hungary and the Anglo-Saxon Prince Edward Atheling. She was not born in Scotland. She spent a significant portion of her childhood at the court of her great-uncle, King Edward the Confessor of England.
- King Malcolm became acquainted with them and became enchanted with the lovely and graceful Margaret.
- Malcolm was a decent man, but he was also gruff and uncultured, just like his nation.
- He delegated responsibility for all household concerns to her, and he frequently sought her advice on state problems.
- She sponsored synods and was present in debates that attempted to rectify religious practices that were rampant among priests and laypeople, such as simony, usury, and incestuous marriages.
- She and her husband were instrumental in the founding of various churches.
- She and Malcolm were the parents of seven sons and two girls.
- Despite the fact that she was deeply involved in the concerns of the household and the country, she remained isolated from the rest of the world.
She set aside specific periods each day for prayer and Scripture reading.
She and Malcolm observed two Lents, one before to Easter and one prior to the holiday season.
In order to make her way home, she would wash the feet of six needy people and provide charity to them.
The fact that she never sat down to eat until she had fed nine orphans and 24 adults is documented by historians.
Malcolm the Great and his eldest son, Edward, were both assassinated.
Reflection In terms of charity giving, there are two approaches: the “clean method” and the “messy way.” The “honest approach” is to make a donation of money or clothing to an organization that helps the underprivileged.
Margaret’s greatest attribute was her compassion for the less fortunate.
During Advent and Lent, she and her husband knelt on their knees to assist orphans and the impoverished. She was kind in the “messy manner,” much like Christ.
Click here for more on Saint Margaret of Scotland!
Margaret was the daughter of Edward d’Outremer (“The Exile”), the next of kin to Edward the Confessor, and the sister of Edgar the Atheling, who sought refuge from William the Conqueror at the court of King Malcolm Canmore in Scotland. Margaret was the daughter of Edward d’Outremer (“The Exile”), the next of kin to Edward the Confessor, and the sister of Edgar the Atheling. When Macbeth slew his father, King Duncan, the young prince Malcolm, who was to become Margaret’s husband, was still a toddler, the tragedy unfolded.
- Margaret, who was as beautiful as she was intelligent and competent, charmed Malcolm, and the two were married in the year 1070 at the castle of Dunfermline, Scotland.
- Malcolm, as well as the rest of Scotland, benefited greatly by their union.
- Their primary goals in life appeared to be the preservation of justice, the establishment of religion, and the happiness of their citizens.
- Margaret also contributed significantly to her new homeland by fostering the arts of civilization, boosting education, and encouraging religious beliefs.
- At her suggestion, church councils were convened, and enactments were established to combat the ills she had identified.
- Sunday and holy day Mass attendance has been made mandatory, and the norms for Easter communion and Lent have been reinstated.
- She made a concerted effort to recruit qualified priests and instructors for all regions of the land, and she organized an embroidery guild among the women of the court to sew vestments and furnishings for the churches.
With six sons and two girls, God blessed the couple with a family, and their mother raised them with the highest love and devotion, personally training them in the Christian religion and supervising their academic pursuits.
In addition to her own family, St.
Her private life was extremely austere: she ate only when absolutely necessary, and in order to have enough time for her devotions, she allowed herself only a few hours of sleep per night.
Her routine during these times consisted of waking up around midnight and going to the church for Matins.
When she returned, she bathed the feet of six needy people and distributed charity to them.
On one occasion, her personal copy of the Gospels was mistakenly dumped into a river, yet it was unharmed beyond a minor watermark on the cover.
Perhaps St.
She paid frequent visits to the ill, tending to their needs with her own hands.
Each and every time she went out into the public, she was besieged by beggars, none of whom were allowed to leave without being fed, and she never sat down at a table until she had fed the throngs of paupers and orphans.
During the Battle of Alnwick in 1093, King William Rufus surprised the castle’s defenders and defeated them.
St.
A tremendous calamity has befallen Scotland today, maybe bigger than any other in a long time,” she remarked to her attendants on the day her husband was assassinated.
He answered that everything was OK since he was concerned about the impact the news would have on her in her frail state.
And, raising her hands to Heaven, she expressed her gratitude to the Almighty God for giving her such a severe suffering at the end of her life, hoping that it would purify her from her sins.
Then she breathed her last and repeated the words, “O Lord Jesus Christ, who through thy death hast brought life to the world, save me from all evil!” The abbess died four days after her husband, on November 16, 1093, when she was in her forty-seventh year.
The canonization of St.
The city of Dunfermline was plundered in 1560, but the treasures were evacuated securely. The remains of St. Margaret, as well as those of Malcolm, were moved to a chapel at the Escorial, just outside of Madrid, for burial. St. Margaret was designated as the patron saint of Scotland in 1673.
St. Margaret of Scotland
St. Margaret of Scotland is a saint from Scotland. 1045–1093 (about) The feast day is on November 16th. Margaret might have been born in Hungary to a German mother, according to certain sources. She was the granddaughter of an English king, and she was transported to England when she was a little child by her grandparents. After the Norman invasion of England, she fled to Scotland, where she has remained ever since. Margaret became the wife of Malcolm III, the king of Scotland, in 1070. They were the parents of two daughters and six sons.
She was also well-known for her charitable work with orphans and the impoverished.
After her husband and son were slain in combat, she died just four days after they were murdered.
Scotland’s patron saint is Margaret, who is also known as the “Mother of the Nation.” U.S.
Copyright 2016.
Image courtesy of the National Gallery of Art in Espanol |
Margaret of Scotland, by Jacques Callot Available in Spanish as well as EnglishSaint of the Week Educate children and adults alike about one of the numerous saints who are venerated in the Catholic faith by using this saint profile to provide information about them.