November 16
Saint Margaret of Scotland was descended from the English royal family, but she was born in Hungary where her parents, Princess Agatha of Hungary and Prince Edward of England, had been exiled. When Margarets’ father was called back to England as a potential successor to the English throne, the family returned to England. Sadly, her father died immediately after their arrival. Margaret and her brother, Edgar, remained at the English court. When William the Conqueror was victorious at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, Agatha and her children fled to Northumbria, and from there to the European continent. However, their ship got caught in a storm, and they were driven north to Scotland. The spot they landed on has been preserved and is called St. Margaret’s Hope.
The king of Scotland, Malcolm III, welcomed them and fell in love with the beautiful princess. Malcolm and Margaret were married in 1070. Together they had eight children. By all accounts, Margaret was a good influence on Malcolm. She softened his temper, and with her help, he became a virtuous and just king. He put Margaret in charge of all domestic affairs, and she was also influential in matters of state. She was known for her deep prayer life and constantly worked to help the poor. She also had churches constructed, including the Abbey of Dunfermline. This abbey was the first Benedictine community in Scotland.
King Malcolm admired his wife so much that he had her prayer books decorated in jewels. One of these, a book of the Gospels, is now kept in Oxford, in the Bodleian Library.
In 1093, Malcolm and his oldest son were killed during the Battle of Alnwick. Queen Margaret passed away four days later, on November 16, 1093. Both Malcolm and Margaret were buried at the Abbey of Dunfermline. During the Protestant Reformation, Margaret’s remains were smuggled out of the abbey to Spain, where they were eventually lost. Much of the abbey is in ruins today, but a Protestant (Church of Scotland) parish church was built on the site.
Saint Margaret of Scotland is proof that saints can come from all walks of life.
(Image © Patrick Wang, via Shutterstock)