Saint Margaret of Scotland: A Queen’s Compassionate Leadership
A Catholic woman leader can learn profound lessons from St. Margaret of Scotland (c. 1045–1093), queen, mother of eight, and reformer. Exiled English royalty, she married King Malcolm III and transformed a rough court into a center of piety—daily serving orphans, fasting rigorously, and rising at midnight for prayer.
Leadership Lessons for Catholic Leaders
- Sanctify the secular—use influence to foster justice and devotion;
- Model family holiness—she educated her children in faith, producing saintly kings;
- Serve the poor personally—Margaret washed pilgrims’ feet and ransomed captives;
- Reform gently—she persuaded Malcolm to abolish cruel laws through love.
Canonized in 1250, her life proves leadership flows from prayerful motherhood and humble service, turning palaces into parishes and kingdoms into mission fields.
