St Margaret of Scotland

Margaret of Scotland in the window of St Margaret's Chapel Edinburgh

 
Proverbs 31:10-11,20,26,28
Matthew 13:44-52
Psalm 146:4-9
or Psalm 112:1-9


The feast day of St Margaret of Scotland falls on November 16th. Margaret, who was born around 1046 AD was probably Hungarian. A political refugee, she found protection at the court of Malcolm King of Scotland. Though her youth, delicacy and refinement contrasted somewhat sharply with his character and life style, they appear to have had a deeply happy marriage, a fact reflected in the reading from Proverbs appointed for this day. They had eight children including David I, one of the architects of the Scottish nation.

Margaret's profound personal faith, her commitment to the reform of the Church, and her seemingly limitless charitable work were legendary in her own day. She it was who established a ferry across the River Forth to encourage pilgrimages to the Shrine of St Andrew at St Andrews in Fife. Centuries later the ferry was replaced by the famous Forth Road Bridge, but the towns of North and South Queensferry retain their commemorative names.

Margaret died on November 16 1093, just three days after the deaths of her husband and eldest son. It was over 200 years before she was canonized -- by Pope Innocent IV in 1250. Her connection with pilgrimage inspired this verse of a hymn about her.

Patience the cloak she wore
Love in her bag she bore
Grace was the staff with which she strode
Hope in her Blessed Lord
Faith in his Holy Word
These were her food upon the road.