Hymn
Option I. St. Margaret of Scotland School Anthem
Saint Marg’ret of Scotland, blessed patron of our school,
As a Christian and a ruler you let Christ be your rule.
In your good example there’s a lesson we must heed:
To love our God and neighbor well in thought, word and deed.
As students and disciples we must strive to do our best
That we can share the gifts with which our lives have been blessed;
Wherever our futures lead, whatever lies in store,
May the Spirit of Saint Marg’ret be with us evermore.
Option II. God Whose Loving Kindness Models
TUNE: HYFRYDOL (TEXT: J. Michael Thompson)
God, whose loving kindness models What a ruler’s deeds should be,
On this [day of our novena] Hear your people’s heartfelt plea;
As we honor good St. Marg’ret , Patron of the Scottish land,
May we follow her example, Ever led by Christ’s own hand.
Wife and mother of her fam’ly, Faithful in her daily cares,
She inspired the king, her husband, Through her words, her deeds, her prayers.
That his rule was held in honor While the nation sang their praise;
And her children, formed in goodness, Lived her teaching all their days.
Keeping Christ as her example, Marg’ret taught her people, too;
Helped the Church to live Christ’s message, That his truth be heard anew.
Her fierce love for poor and downcast, Orphan, widow – these were fed
By her hand and from her riches, As the Master’s teaching said.
Prayer
Leader:
Leader:
All:
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Let us pray as one:
Good and Gracious God,
We come before you as the community of St. Margaret of Scotland,
gathered today to pray a Novena for clarity of mind and heart
during this search for new school leadership.
We ask you, O God, for support and strength,
direction and guidance,
joy and peace
as we seek to embody the example of our patron saint,
becoming responsible leaders and caretakers of our community
through works of service and social justice.
Lead us the way we need to go, as our story unfolds before us.
We make this prayer, filled with hope,
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Reading
Her people had free access to her. There was a stone called St. Margaret’s Stone near Dunfermline, on which tradition says she used to sit so that anyone in trouble might come to her. Her charity was unbounded; she thought of her poorest subjects before herself. Every morning “at the first hour of the day” (though she had already spent many hours in prayer and the saying of the Psalms) nine little orphans were brought to her. “When the little ones were carried to her, she did not think it beneath her to take them upon her knee and to get their pap ready for them and this she used to put into their mouths with the spoon which she herself used . . . The Queen did this act of charity for the sake of Christ, as one of Christ’s servants.”
It was also the custom at Dunfermline that any destitute poor should come every morning to “the royal hall”; when they were seated round it, then “the King and Queen entered … With the exception of the chaplains and a few attendants, no one was permitted to be present at their alms deeds. The King on one side and the Queen on the other, waited on Christ in the person of His poor.”
The daily observance is an allegory of Margaret’s life; service of God and her fellowmen before service of self. Dr. Skene, the eminent historian, gives this judgment on her character, “For purity of motives, for an earnest desire to benefit the people among whom her lot was cast, for a deep sense of religion and great personal piety, for the unselfish performance of whatever duty lay before her and for entire self-abnegation, she is unsurpassed.” And he adds, “No more beautiful character has been recorded in history.”Much as she did for Scotland, Margaret was greater than her greatest work. Her achievements were great, but the selfless spirit in which she achieved them was greater still. As Cassian said, “The height of perfection and blessedness does not consist in the performance of wonderful works but in the purity of Love. For all these things shall pass away and be destroyed, but Love is to abide for ever.”
From “St. Margaret Queen of Scotland” by Lucy Menzies
Response
Leader:
All:
Leader:
All:
Leader:
All:
At dawn, fill us with your merciful love;
we shall exult and rejoice all our days.
Let your deed be seen by your servants,
and your glorious power by their children.
Let the favor of the LORD our God be upon us;
Give success to the work of our hands.
O give success to the work of our hands.
Word of God
They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, he began to ask them,
Mark 9: 33-37
“What were you arguing about on the way?”
But they remained silent.
They had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest.
Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them,
“If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.”
Taking a child he placed it in their midst,
and putting his arms around it he said to them,
“Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me;
and whoever receives me, receives not me but the one who sent me.”
Questions for Reflection
After leader reads questions aloud, all pause to reflect during one minute of silence.
- How is the Spirit of St. Margaret promoted and made manifest in our community? What areas call for renewal?
- What are the implications for our school administration, faculty, school board, and parent groups as we consider St. Margaret’s model of leadership?
Petitions
Leader: Christ hears and saves all who hope in him. Let us bring him our needs.
That our school will honor St. Margaret, teaching and living her story through each generation in word and practice, we pray…
R. Lord, hear our prayer.
That our children will develop the desire to change the world, and the confidence and skills of St. Margaret’s holy leadership, we pray… R.
That our community will unite in witness to the Gospel, and seek the common good in all our institutional decisions…, we pray… R.
For what else shall we pray?
Individuals may offer intentions.
Prayer of Saint Margaret of Scotland
Leader: Let us recall our mission as together we pray:
Loving God,
You call your people to holiness and create among them models of kindness.
We thank you for the life of St. Margaret of Scotland:
a woman of leadership and hope in a confusing world;
a wife and mother excelling in patience, dedication and love;
a teacher supported and inspired by a life of learning;
a generous friend and a loyal servant to the poor and helpless;
a model of Christian faith and constant prayerfulness.
As we build our faith, help us to grow rich in the values of St. Margaret:
That faith, hope and love might inspire
our presence in the city and neighborhood,
our relationships with family and friends,
our concern for the education of the young,
our care for the poor and the weak,
our community’s prayer in word and sacrament.
Bless our parish and our school;
Let it be for us a community of love and sharing,
and a source of life and grace;
Let it be a witness to our neighbors
of your life, your presence and your love.
Through Christ, Our Lord,
Amen.
Optional, following Novena:
Share your reflections from above questions, focused on the mission value of the day.
- Index cards available at the shared novena, or
- Email PraySMOS@gmail.com
- Comments received may be shared with the community and those who search for our new staff members.
