SAINT MARGARET

Image of Saint Margaret of Scotland

By Edward Matulanya 

Here is the history, holiness, influence, contribution canonization, and Legacy of Saint Margaret of Scotland.

1. Historical Background of Saint Margaret

Saint Margaret of Scotland was born around 1046 in Hungary to the Anglo-Saxon royal family exiled there after Danish invasions of England (Farmer, 2011). Her father was Edward the Exile, and her mother, Agatha of Hungary, was related to the Holy Roman Emperor. Around 1068, Margaret and her family sought refuge in Scotland, where she married King Malcolm III about 1070 (Attwater & John, 1995). As queen, she became a spiritual and cultural reformer, known for uniting royal dignity with deep Christian humility.

2. Examples of Holiness and Influence of Saint Margaret

Explore examples of holiness and influence of Saint Margaret, highlighting her virtuous life, spiritual legacy, and lasting impact on Roman Catholic faith and devotion.

2.1. Saint Margaret Charity to the Poor

Margaret devoted much of her royal wealth to works of mercy. Chronicler Turgot of Durham records that she personally fed hundreds of the poor each day, often serving them before she herself ate and washing the feet of six beggars daily (Turgot, c. 1100/1998).

2.2. Contribution of Saint Margaret on Church Reform and Education.

Margaret worked to bring the Scottish Church into closer conformity with Roman practice—clarifying the proper date for Easter, insisting on Sunday rest, and encouraging frequent Communion (Duffy, 1997). She also invited learned clerics from Europe to improve religious education and literacy among clergy and laity.

2.3. Saint Margaret Founding Religious Institutions

She founded and endowed Dunfermline Abbey, which became a key center of Scottish Christian life, and built hospices at Queensferry to assist pilgrims traveling to St Andrews (Butler, 1956).

2.4. Family Life and Legacy of Saint Margaret

As the mother of eight children including the later sainted King David I Margaret provided a model of holy motherhood and royal piety (Duffy, 1997).

3. Death and Canonization of Saint Margaret

Margaret died on 16 November 1093, shortly after learning of the deaths of her husband and eldest son at Alnwick. Pope Innocent IV canonized her in 1250 (Farmer, 2011). Her relics were enshrined at Dunfermline Abbey, and she was later declared patroness of Scotland and Christian mothers.

4. Legacy of Saint Margaret

St Margaret’s Chapel within Edinburgh Castle, dating from the early 12th century, remains Scotland’s oldest surviving building and a lasting testament to her piety (Historic Environment Scotland, 2023).

References

Apostleship of Prayer. (2004). Daily offering prayers: Traditional forms. Catholic Truth Society.

Attwater, D., & John, C. (1995). The Penguin dictionary of saints (3rd ed.). Penguin Books.

Benedict XVI. (2010, October 6). General audience: Saint Gertrude the Great. Vatican News. https://www.vatican.va

Butler, A. (1956). Lives of the saints (Vol. 4). Burns & Oates.

Duffy, E. (1997). Saints and sinners: A history of the popes (Rev. ed.). Yale University Press.

Farmer, D. H. (2011). The Oxford dictionary of saints (5th rev. ed.). Oxford University Press.

Gertrude the Great. (1987). The herald of divine love (A. Gardner, Trans.). Paulist Press. (Original work published ca. 1290)

Historic Environment Scotland. (2023). St Margaret’s Chapel, Edinburgh Castle. https://www.historicenvironment.scot

Turgot of Durham. (c. 1100/1998). The life of St Margaret, queen of Scotland (R. Forbes Leith, Trans.). Burns & Oates.