Eleventh-century queen of Scotland who cared for her family and people in faith and served the poor.
Life
Saint Margaret of Scotland was born around 1045 in Hungary, where members of the English royal family were living in exile. After the Norman Conquest she fled with her family to Scotland, and around 1070 she married King Malcolm III and became queen.
She lived a deep life of prayer, had a good influence on her husband and the court, and raised her children in the faith. She personally fed and cared for the poor and orphans, founded churches and monasteries and helped pilgrims. She also worked for the renewal of the Church in Scotland.
She died in 1093, shortly after hearing that her husband and son had been killed in battle, and was canonized in 1250. The Church remembers her on November 16.
Spirituality
Margaret's spirituality is a love that sanctifies family and society. Even as queen she kept prayer at the center of her life, and that prayer flowed into concrete charity toward the poor. Nurturing faith at home became a way of renewing a nation.
Reflection
Margaret was a busy queen, yet she never begrudged time for her family and the poor. This week, could you begin by praying grace before meals with your family with real care?