St. Margaret’s faith was a catalyst not only to her own holiness but that of her family’s.

Margaret was born a princess in Hungary around 1046 and, after her father’s exile, spent much of her youth in the court of her uncle, the English king, Edward the Confessor, also canonized a saint. During the Norman invasion, Margaret’s family fled from William the Conqueror and ended up shipwrecked on the coast of Scotland. King Malcolm of Scotland took them in and was utterly charmed by Margaret. Margaret and Malcolm fell in love and were married in 1070.

Margaret and Malcolm had six sons and two daughters, and Margaret was as excellent a mother as she was a wife. Margaret carefully supervised the education and religious instruction of her children; her youngest son, David, has also become a canonized saint. Margaret’s husband Malcolm had a good heart, but was rough and uncultured and was often irritable and domineering. With patient wisdom and iron resolve, Margaret earned his trust as a counselor with her clear advice and practical wisdom. Through her example of rational goodness and kindness, Margaret softened Malcolm’s hot temper and guided him in practicing a life of virtue.

Margaret used her position of great influence to promote the arts and more available education in Scotland. Margaret founded several churches with her husband and initiated dialogues with the hierarchy about reforming abuses of power in the Church. It was Margaret’s great delight to make the churches she and Malcolm built beautiful, reflecting God’s splendor. Margaret often embroidered priests’ vestments for Mass with her own two hands.

From today’s Office of Readings, the office quotes the pastoral constitution from the Second Vatican Council, Gaudium et Spes, to celebrate Margaret’s saintly witness in marriage:

“True married love is caught up into God’s love; it is guided and enriched by the redeeming power of Christ and the saving action of the Church, in order that the partners may be effectively led to God.”

Despite her many duties in the court and for her family, Margaret was perpetually faithful to prayer. She gave up sleep in order to have time for devotions and she often meditated on the words of Scripture. During Advent and Lent, Margaret would get up in the middle of the night in order to attend Mass at midnight every night. On the walk home, she would stop to care for the poor beggars, washing their feet and giving them money. The destitute sought her out for aid, and Margaret never refused them. Pious legend claims that Margaret never sat down to eat herself without first feeding nine orphans and two dozen beggars.

In 1093, Margaret died at home in Edinburgh upon hearing the news that her husband Malcolm and one of their sons were killed in battle. Some of Margaret’s relics rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on Notre Dame’s campus. Our featured image of St. Margaret of Scotland was created by Matthew Alderman, a 2006 graduate of the School of Architecture.

St. Margaret of Scotland, who helped your husband grow in virtue and taught your children to be saints—pray for us!

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Image Credit: Image by Notre Dame alumnus Matthew Alderman, who holds exclusive rights to the further distribution and publication of his art. Used here with permission.