St. Margaret of Scotland & St. Agnes of Assisi

"I come, O Lord, unto Thy sanctuary to see the life and food of my soul. As I hope in Thee, O Lord, inspire me with that confidence which brings me to Thy holy mountain. Permit me, Divine Jesus, to come closer to Thee, that my whole soul may do homage to the greatness of Thy majesty; that my heart, with its tenderest affections, may acknowledge Thine infinite love; that my memory may dwell on the admirable mysteries here renewed everyday, and that the sacrifice of my whole being may accompany Thine." 

- St. Agnes of Assisi (1198 - 1253) 

Today is the feast day of St. Margaret of Scotland (top) and St. Agnes of Assisi (bottom). 

St. Margaret of Scotland was born in the 11th century to Princess Agatha and to the English Prince Edward Atheling. She spent much time in her great uncle's (St. Edward the Confessor, see October 13th post) court. However, when King William the Conqueror came to the English throne she and her family were forced to flee the country and their ship wrecked off the coast of Scotland. King Malcolm of Scotland welcomed the exiles and fell in love with Margaret. Malcolm and Margaret were married in 1070. Though Malcolm was a good man, he was rough and uncultured like his country. Margaret helped Malcolm and his court to develop better manners and to become more virtuous. Margaret helped her husband, lived an austere life, encouraged the arts and education in her country, took care of all the domestic affairs in her household, and much more. She lived a very virtuous life. She and her husband had 6 sons and 2 daughters together. The youngest boy even became a saint (St. David). She died in 1093, only four days after the death of her husband.

St. Agnes of Assisi was born in 1198 in Assisi, Italy, to a wealthy family. She was St. Clare's younger sister, and joined Clare in the convent when she was 15 years old despite her family's fierce opposition. When her family tried to take her away forcibly from the convent, she became so heavy that they could not budge her; her uncle's arm was also paralyzed when he tried to strike her. She stayed with her sister St. Clare in San Damiano until 1219 when St. Francis appointed her to be abbess of the Poor Ladies (now known as the Poor Clares) at Monticelli. She helped establish many different convents throughout Italy, and came back to San Damiano when St. Clare was dying. Agnes passed away three months after St. Clare in 1253, and was canonized in 1753. 

St. Margaret and St. Agnes, pray for us!

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http://www.americancatholic.org/features/saints/saint.aspx?id=1204

http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=528

http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/Saints/saint.aspx?id=1201

http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=304

http://www.stmargaretofscotland.com/biography.htm