St. Margaret of Scotland
Saint Margaret of Scotland
St. Margaret of Scotland
When she lived:
St. Margaret of Scotland, also known as Queen Margaret, lived from around 1045 to November 16, 1093.
Where she lived:
St. Margaret was born in Hungary in 1045 to the exiled English prince Edward the Exile and Agatha, who was of Hungarian descent. Her family later returned to England, and she spent her early years at the court of Edward the Confessor. After the Norman Conquest of England, Margaret and her family fled to Scotland, where she eventually married King Malcolm III of Scotland.
Notable world events during her life:
- Battle of Hastings (1066): In 1066, the Battle of Hastings took place, where William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy, defeated King Harold II of England. This event marked the beginning of Norman rule in England and had significant political and social ramifications throughout Europe.
- Great Schism (1054): The Great Schism was the split between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church in 1054, leading to the separation of the Christian Church into two distinct branches.
- First Crusade (1096-1099): The First Crusade was launched by Pope Urban II to recapture the Holy Land from the Muslims. This event had a profound impact on European history and led to the establishment of Crusader states in the Levant.
- Norman Conquest of England (1066): The Norman Conquest marked the end of Anglo-Saxon rule in England and the beginning of Norman influence, which shaped English culture, language, and governance for centuries to come.
Patronage:
St. Margaret of Scotland is the patron saint of Scotland, queens, large families, and widows. She is revered for her piety, devotion to the poor, and efforts to promote education and the arts during her time as queen.
Early Life
Saint Margaret of Scotland was also known as Margaret of Wessex. She was born around 1045 in the Kingdom of Hungary.
Saint Margaret was born to an English prince named Edward the Exile and a woman named Agatha. She was the granddaughter of the King of England,Edmund Ironside.
As a child, Saint Margaret’s father and her uncles grew up in the Swedish palace of King Olof Skötkoung. A few years later, he traveled to Kiev and then to Hungary.
He had been a part of those who supported King Andrew I, and he might have met Agatha there.
Saint Margaret and her siblings, Edgar the Theling and Cristina, spent their early lives in Hungary. Seeing that their parents were devout Christians, we were raised to be faithful to God and the Church.
Dedication and devotion
Saint Margaret was raised in the Hungarian court for a while. Still, at a young age, she traveled to England with her family. Her father had been nominated to take up the throne of his late brother, King Edward the Confessor.
Immediately after they arrived in England, Saint Margaret’s father passed away. It is unknown if he fell sick or was ambushed.
From then on, Saint Margaret and her siblings lived in the English Court. After some years, her brother, Edgar the Theling, was appointed king of England.
He ruled for some time until the Normans took over London.
Agatha was said to have taken her children to return to Northumbria. Their plan didn’t pan out because a storm drove their vessel to Scotland instead. Where they landed is said to be known today as St.Margaret’s Hope.
They were taken in by King Malcolm III. King Malcolm at that time was a widower with two sons, whose names were Donald and Duncan.
Some accounts claim that Saint Margaret and her family may not have met until later in life.
Legacy
King Malcolm fell in love with Saint Margaret, and they got married in 1070 in the Royal Castle. Saint Margaret encouraged her husband to become dedicated to God and the Church.
Together, they had six sons and two daughters.
Saint Margaret was said to have been the secret to King Malcolm’s reign. She advised him on major decisions and helped calm his temper.
Saint Margaret encouraged her husband to pray, fast, and be more generous to the people of the kingdom. Due to her influence, the king split his possessions with the poor people of the kingdom.
Saint Margaret’s generosity extended beyond the poor. She strives to provide better education for the children of the kingdom. She established institutions of education and the arts.
Saint Margaret worked actively to reform the church’s religious practices. She was said to have been inspired by a man named Lanfranc.
She worked hard to unite the practices of the Scottish and Continental churches. She was strong-willed, passionate, and dedicated to her faith.
Saint Margaret Seas is also active in the matter of the states. She was said to have established ferries at Queensferry and North Berwick. She did this to smooth the journey of pilgrims that passed through the kingdom.
She adopted the use of caves on the bank of Dunfermline for the purpose of prayer and Christian worship. She was also instrumental in the formation of Iona Abbey in Scotland.
Death and Canonization
King Malcolm and Edward, Saint Margaret’s eldest son, died in a war against the English in 1903. She was informed of their deaths by Edgar, another of their sons.
This caused Saint Margaret so much sadness. She could not take it any longer, and three days after the deaths of her husband and son, she passed away.
Saint Margaret was buried at the altar of Dunfermline Abbey. She was canonized in 1250 by Pope Innocent IV.
She is celebrated on the 16th of November.
5 Interesting Facts About St. Margaret of Scotland
- Did you know that Saint Margaret was said to have read the Bible to
King Malcolm III? - Did you know that Saint Margaret made sure that the poor ate before
she did? She was also said to have imitated Jesus Christ and was
seen washing their feet. - Did you know that Saint Margaret assisted the Benedictine Order in
building a monastery in Dunfermline, Fife? - Did you know that Saint Margaret said the liturgy every day at
midnight? - Did you know that Saint Margaret wrote some books? King Malcolm
He loved the books so much that he had them ornately decorated with gold and
silver.
Prayer to St. Margaret of Scotland
Merciful God, you gave the holy Queen Margaret of Scotland great love for the poor. Lend your ear to the intercessions of this holy woman and help us to live after her examples so that your goodness and mercy become visible in today’s world. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever, Amen.
Source[https://www.google.com/amp/s/prayers4reparation.wordpress.com/2013/11/16/prayer-to-st-margaret-of-scotland/amp/]{.ul}
