Our Anglican Roots: St. Margaret, Queen of Scotland

Shakespeare made familiar the name of Malcolm III, King of Scotland. Malcolm's wife was an English princess named Margaret. Margaret (d. 1093) was married in 1070 despite a leaning to the religious life. At her instigation many abuses were reformed and synods held to regulate the Lenten fast and Easter Communion. Her great personal piety found expression in her personal practice of prayer and fasting and in her charity to the poor. She encouraged the founding of schools, hospitals, and orphanages. Together, Margaret and her husband rebuilt the monastery of Iona and founded Dunfermline Abbey, under the direction of the Benedictine monks.

In addition to her zeal for Church and people, Margaret was a conscientious wife and the mother of eight children. Malcolm, a strong-willed man, came to trust her judgment even in matters of State.

St. Margaret of Scotland

St. Margaret of Scotland
Feast Day: November 16, 2007
(1050?-1093)

Margaret of Scotland was a truly liberated woman in the sense that she was free to be herself. For her, that meant freedom to love God and serve others.
Margaret was not Scottish by birth. She was the daughter of Princess Agatha of Hungary and the Anglo-Saxon Prince Edward Atheling. She spent much of her youth in the court of her great-uncle, the English king, Edward the Confessor. Her family fled from William the Conqueror and was shipwrecked off the coast of Scotland. King Malcolm befriended them and was captivated by the beautiful, gracious Margaret. They were married at the castle of Dunfermline in 1070.
     Malcolm was good-hearted, but rough and uncultured, as was his country. Because of Malcolm’s love for Margaret, she was able to soften his temper, polish his manners and help him become a virtuous king. He left all domestic affairs to her and often consulted her in state matters.
     Margaret tried to improve her adopted country by promoting the arts and education. For religious reform, she instigated synods and was present for the discussions which tried to correct religious abuses common among priests and others, such as simony, usury and incestuous marriages. With her husband, she founded several churches.
     Margaret was not only a queen, but a mother. She and Malcolm had six sons and two daughters. Margaret personally supervised their religious instruction and their other studies.
     Although she was very much caught up in the affairs of the household and country, she remained detached from the world. Her private life was austere. She had certain times for prayer and reading Scripture. She ate sparingly and slept little in order to have time for devotions. She and Malcolm kept two Lents, one before Easter and one before Christmas. During these times she always rose at midnight for Mass. On the way home she would wash the feet of six poor persons and give them alms. She was always surrounded by beggars in public and never refused them. It is recorded that she never sat down to eat without first feeding nine orphans and 24 adults.
     In 1093, King William Rufus made a surprise attack on Alnwick castle. King Malcolm and his oldest son, Edward, were killed. Margaret, already on her deathbed, died four days after her husband.

Comment:

There are two ways to be charitable: the "clean way" and the "messy way." The "clean way" is to give money or clothing to organizations that serve the poor. The "messy way" is dirtying your own hands in personal service to the poor. Margaret's outstanding virtue was her love of the poor. Although very generous with material gifts, Margaret also visited the sick and nursed them with her own hands. She and her husband served orphans and the poor on their knees during Advent and Lent. Like Christ, she was charitable the "messy way."

Quote:

"When [Margaret] spoke, her conversation was with the salt of wisdom. When she was silent, her silence was filled with good thoughts. So thoroughly did her outward bearing correspond with the staidness of her character that it seemed as if she has been born the pattern of a virtuous life" (Turgot, St. Margaret's confessor).

And here in Charlotte, NC, the congregation of our own Saint Margaret’s Episcopal (named since this region has very Scottish roots), having been part of the Anglican Network for a long time, and faithful to her Anglican roots, that is scripture and tradition—and therefore our Lord Himself—finally left their (new, gorgeously traditionally designed, multi-million-dollar) building behind, along with their name.

They are now All Saints Anglican meeting in a borrowed fellowship hall in a local Presbyterian church.

Such is the legal quandary of NC Episcopal churches that dare to be faithful to Christ, by leaving the TEC-will-blackmail-you gang.

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