Queen, Widow, and Confessor
Feast: June 10 (Traditional Calendar)
Canonized: 1250 by Pope Innocent IV
“She opened her mouth in wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her tongue.” — Proverbs 31:26
Early Life and Exile
Margaret was born around the year 1045 in Hungary, where her father, the English prince Edward the Exile (son of King Edmund Ironside), had taken refuge following the Danish conquest of England. Her mother, Agatha, was a pious and noble woman, possibly of the imperial house of Constantinople. Margaret was raised in an atmosphere of Christian piety, learning, and royal dignity.
Around 1057, her family returned to England when Edward the Confessor invited them back. But after the Norman Conquest in 1066, the family fled north, eventually finding refuge in Scotland. There, King Malcolm III Canmore, recently established on the Scottish throne, received them with honor.
Queen and Mother
Malcolm, though a warrior-king, was deeply impressed by Margaret’s virtue, wisdom, and beauty. The two were married around 1070. Though Margaret became Queen of Scotland, she lived more as a handmaid of the Lord than a sovereign of men.
Margaret bore eight children, six sons and two daughters. Several of her sons became kings and were themselves known for their Christian virtue—most notably Saint David I of Scotland.
Piety and Works of Mercy
Margaret exercised a profound spiritual influence over her husband and the court. Though Malcolm could neither read nor write, he would kiss the holy books Margaret read and had them ornamented with gold and gems. He came to share in her love for prayer, penance, and charity.
She rose early each day for Matins and Mass, fasted with rigor, and was devoted to the Liturgy of the Hours. Her spiritual practices were not confined to private devotion; she enacted numerous works of mercy:
- Fed nine orphans and twenty-four poor daily, often serving them with her own hands.
- Washed the feet of beggars during Advent and Lent.
- Supported monasteries, built churches, and restored Christian order to ecclesiastical life in Scotland.
Defender of the Faith
Scotland’s Church had, by her time, grown irregular in practice due to isolation and tribal custom. With humility and wisdom, Margaret sought to align the Scottish Church with Roman discipline:
- She summoned synods to correct liturgical abuses.
- Advocated for proper observance of Easter and Sunday rest.
- Encouraged reception of the Holy Eucharist and proper fasting.
She fulfilled the duties of both queen and spiritual mother of the nation, ruling with gentleness but firmness.
Death and Canonization
Margaret suffered the grief of losing her beloved husband and son in battle at Alnwick on November 13, 1093. Weakened by illness and long penance, she received news of their deaths with calm resignation, offering her sufferings to God. She died four days later, on November 16, surrounded by the prayers of the Church.
Her body was buried at Dunfermline Abbey, and many miracles were reported at her tomb. In 1250, Pope Innocent IV canonized her, declaring her a saint of the universal Church.
Her incorrupt head was kept as a relic and venerated for centuries. Though her relics were scattered during the Reformation, her memory endures in Catholic and even Scottish national history.
Patronage:
- Scotland
- Large families
- Widows
- Queens
- The poor
Legacy
St. Margaret stands as a model of Catholic queenship, combining regal responsibility with deep humility and charity. In her, the active and contemplative lives were harmonized, and her reign helped pave the way for a more unified and Christian Scotland.
“She governed with the wisdom of Solomon, served with the charity of Martha, and prayed with the heart of Mary.” — Traditional Benedictine reflection