[MR] Wikipedia: Saint Margaret of Scotland

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends, Especially Fellow Scots:

On this date in 1093, Margaret, Queen-consort of Scotland, died in
Edinburgh.

Margaret was a remarkable woman with a fascinating history. She hailed from
the Royal House of Wessex, daughter of ex-patriot prince Edward the Exile.
She was born in Hungary, though Edward and her family were recalled to
England in 1057. After the Norman conquest and her father's death, her
mother and the children fled back to the continent in 1068. Their boat
somehow ended up making landfall in Scotland. There the family was received
by King Malcolm III, who was immediately smitten by the pious and gentle
Margaret. They married in 1070.

Queen Margaret was noted for her piety and religious works, including
founding monasteries, rebuilding St. Columba's church on Iona, establishing
ferries on the pilgrim route to St. Andrews, and bringing the Benedictine
order to Scotland. She fed the poor and orphans daily. Her influence also
shifted Scottish Chrisianity away from the Celtic model to compliance with
Rome.

She bore eight children, with three sons eventually being crowned King of
the Scots, and a daughter who became a Queen-consort of England. When
Malcolm and her son Edward were killed in 1093 at the Battle of Alnwick,
Margaret is said to have died of grief upon hearing the news.

Margaret was canonized by Pope Innocent IV in 1250 for her good works and
piety, with November 16 as her feast day. Her tomb in Dunfermline Abbey,
along with Malcolm's and that of Robert the Bruce, was trashed during the
Scottish reformation. Her relics were scattered, and none are known to
exist today. She is considered a saint by the Catholic Church, Anglican
Catholics and the Church of England.

The tiny (the nave is only 10 X16 feet) Chapel of St. Margaret (the nave is
only 10 X16 feet) within Edinburgh Castle is the oldest structure in the
city. It was built by her son King David I in the 12th century, and is
still in use. It is a must-see when you visit the Castle.

You can read more about Margaret's remarkable life at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Margaret_of_Scotland .

St. Margaret's Chapel has its own page at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Margaret%27s_Chapel,_Edinburgh .
Ironically, two of the five stained glass windows (all dating from the 20th
century) depict the Celtic saints Columba and Ninian. It was their style of
worship that Margaret cast aside in favor of Roman practices.

Yours Aye,


Lord Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆