St Margaret of Scotland Statue

When I was newly appointed to this parish, I was approached by the Knights of Columbus, who asked if I had a special project I could give them. After conversation, we decided that a statue of a saint would be a good idea and they left it to me to suggest which one. After a lot of thought I chose St Margaret of Scotland, who lived from 1045 – 1093. There are many male canonized saints, but fewer women, and married women among the canonized are scarce.

Margaret was born into the English royal family, but was born in exile in Hungary because the royal family had fled from England because of an invasion of the Danes. She returned to England at the age of 10 but soon was forced to flee from the Norman invasion of 1066 which overthrew the Anglo-Saxon House of Wessex. She resolved to turn to the continent where she had relatives, but she was shipwrecked on the coast of Scotland and so sought refuge with Malcom III, King of Scots.

Malcom’s first wife had died, and the royal pair soon fell in love and were married in 1070. They spent their lives together, and had eight children. King Malcom was large, loud and very much the warrior, and had earlier slain the usurping King Macbeth. Margaret made it her business to bring some degree of civility to the wild Scottish Royal Court. When Malcom was not out breaking people’s heads open, the couple spent the evenings quietly together, while Margaret read him Bible stories, translating the Latin on sight. She used her position to work many charitable acts for the poor, arranged for a bridge to be built for pilgrims visiting local shrines. She was particularly devout, encouraged the clergy to spread the Faith, challenged corruption and founded several churches. She personally cared for the poor in hospitals and she even managed to convince the King to assist personally in feeding programs for the hungry. In 1093, when she was informed of her husband’s death in battle, she collapsed and died a few days later. They were buried together in Dunfermline Abbey.

The chronicles tell a wonderful story, that her grave had become so popular that the site was difficult for pilgrims, and so the monks resolved to build her a larger shrine. But when the time came to transfer her remains, they dug up the saint’s casket without problem, but once placed on the floor, it absolutely would not move no matter how hard they pushed and pulled. Soon, they saw the problem, that King Malcom had not been exhumed with his wife. So they dug him up also and the royal couple was moved together.

St Margaret is called “the pearl of Scotland” and is the patron saint of expectant mothers, particularly those with troubled pregnancies, nurses and those who call to her from their deathbed. Her feast day is November 16.

I want to express my deep thanks to the Knights of Columbus for their generosity in making this gift to Sacred Heart.

Rev. Gregory P. Elder
Pastor

St. Margaret of Scotland