Saints and Blesseds who were Wives: St. Margaret of Scotland

I hear quite often from ignorant Catholics that the Church seems to favor the religious (monks, priests, nuns, etc.) as saintable, while putting "holy people" who were married on the back burner, simply because they were married. This is silly, not only because a couple looks at the liturgical feast days would not only show a person plenty of saints who were married, but also because there are a lot more people who have acquired that high degree of holiness through the virginal life, than those who remained in the world and married. Let's be honest, the married state (and consequently the raising of children, shopping for groceries, paying the bills, keeping the household running, etc.) is not as conducive to holiness as is the religious state. However, that being said, those in the married state who DO reach sanctity, have waded through a bit more muck and mire of the world, so they might truly be considered "super saints".

Having a good example to follow and imitate makes things a bit easier, so I would like to have a little weekly series on my blog, in no particular order or preference by the way, with small biographies of saintly wives. They all encountered problems that we can relate to, no matter what time periods they were in; we can use their examples to change the way we deal with things in our day to day lives.

Though it's very hard, a married person, in today's society, can achieve sanctity. Nothing is impossible with God, and if you strive to conform your entire will, every day, to God's, then you will be a saint. A lot easier said than done, but it can be done. The question is, will you?

Saint Margaret of Scotland 1046-1093
There are many great stories attached to this saint. For more details not given in my very brief synopsis, visit these great links: here , here, andhere . I don't want to write another biographical sketch of her life, but I would like to refer to some key points that she dealt with, that could help us in our quests to be better wives.

St. Margaret was the great grand-niece of St. Edward the Confessor, and during her 11th-20th years she lived in his court as an exile (her father was the successor to the English throne, exiled to Hungary; her mother was a Hungarian Princess). In 1066, St. Margaret had to flee to Scotland were King Malcolm III Canmore took her and her brother in as refugees.

King Malcolm III was apparently a wild and spirited man, not bad, but unruly; however, after his marriage to Margaret, a significant change took place in his character, which everyone attributed to Margaret's good influence. This point here, by which Margaret's piety, love, and good example helped her husband, is one that stands out to me. Instead of nagging, pointing out faults, beating King Malcolm over the head with a frying pan. . .St. Margaret instead just simply kept up a constant good example, keeping close to Jesus, her first love, and showing intelligence and virtue. By acknowledging that his wife was onto something there, the King soon wanted it for himself, and so changed his own character, by his own decision. The husband is the head of the home, the wife. . .the heart.

The King could neither read nor write, nor could most of the entire Kingdom, so St. Margaret, who had benefited from a classical Benedictine education, arranged for the first Benedictines to enter Scotland, to come from England and instruct her people, and also her children. Her children also had the benefit of numerous tutors, which gave St. Margaret much more time for prayer and penances, and also gave a good example to the people under their rule. She was very involved in her children's religious upbringing, and told them that "If you love Christ, He will give you prosperity in this life and everlasting happiness with all the saints."

One more highly notable tid-bit; St. Margaret began some very rigorous reforms of the Church in Scotland. We wives can take part in this as well, if not in a higher level, at least beginning with our children, teaching them the Traditions of our Church, exposing the lies that are being taught day in and day out, and keeping abreast of what is really going on in the Church and in our world.

Queen Margaret, along with King Malcolm, visited the sick and imprisoned together, usually carrying food and drink with them to dole out to the poor they came across. St. Margaret practiced many forms of penance, prayed a great deal, and practiced many works of mercy, BUT, she never let any of these wonderful and saintly practices get in the way of her number 1 duty, that of being a good wife and mother. This holy couple had 8 children throughout their 23 year marriage.

Although Queen Margaret wasn't occupied with such things as taking kids to soccer games, cooking, cleaning, etc., she was still very busy with things that don't bother us now. As Queen she had to look over the affairs of the kingdom, along with her husband, and one particular part that she paid close attention to was the education and well-being of her subjects. She went throughout the kingdom settling quarrels and disputes, teaching good manners and temperance, cultivating Christian virtues, love of neighbor. . .and she would dismiss courtiers who failed to display irreproachable conduct at all times. Her main goal was very easy to see; that of reaching heaven. She knew that the only reason she was on earth was to know God, love God and serve God, and she took this very seriously. Her last words on earth were, "Lord Jesus, who through thy death hast given life to the world, deliver me from all evil." She was canonized by Pope Innocent IV as an exemplary wife and mother in 1251.

Everything that we do during the day and night should be aimed at this goal as well; to reach heaven. Looking beyond the hustle and bustle of daily life, we have to learn to steady our hearts and minds, and concentrate on this, the most important and only real reason for living-loving God, knowing God and serving God.

St. Margaret of Scotland, ora pro nobis.