and fought paganism by destroying temples and building chapels in the
ruins. His life was written by Sulpicius Severus, a contemporary, and
became the pattern for most saints’ lives. His grave in Tours became one of
Europe’s most popular pilgrimage destinations.
16 November St Margaret of Scotland (about 1045 to 1093)
Her biography was written by somebody who knew her well, commissioned
by her daughter from her confessor, Turgot, prior of Durham and bishop of
St Andrews. She was the youngest of 4 children of Edward, king of Wessex,
who had taken refuge in Hungary from Danish invaders. In 1057, Edward the
confessor of England summoned her father back, but the Norman Conquest
made life unsafe for Margaret and she followed her brother to Scotland. She
married King Malcolm III Canmore in 1070. She promoted adoption of
Roman practices in matters of Lent and Easter. Revived the monastery of
Iona and built shelters for pilgrims. She developed the priory of Dunfermline
which became the royal burial place. When Dunfermline was sacked, her
body was taken to the Escorial in Spain. She was made Patron Saint of
Scotland in 1673
30 November Saint Andrew the Apostle
His name is Greek and means ’manhood, valour’. He was the