Today we stick with the British Isles for a battle between Scotland and England in the form of Margaret of Scotland vs. William Temple. So it's a pious woman of the 11th century (who didn't become a nun!) squaring off against an early 20th century theologian and Archbishop of Canterbury (who didn't become a nun, either!).
It's been said that "every rose has its thorn." In yesterday's Lent Madness action we learned that Rose of Lima's thorn is Brigid of Kildare who defeated her in the most lopsided battle to date, 82% to 18%. Ouch.
After today’s match-up, we only have one more battle left before the start of the Round of the Saintly Sixteen. Check out the updated bracket and the calendar of upcoming battles and then vote!
Margaret of Scotland (1045-1093) was born Margaret Atheling in Hungary and ended up in England with her family as part of a succession plan devised by King Edward. During the tumult following his death, Margaret and her family fled England and landed in Scotland where they found shelter in the court of King Malcolm.
Eventually Margaret set aside her plans to become a nun and married Malcolm. She had eight children and her descendants ruled Scotland for 200 years. During her reign, Scotland became a center of Christian culture.
Known for her piety and fidelity to the Roman Catholic Church, she was instrumental in rooting out corruption in the moribund Scottish Church and rebuilding monasteries at Iona and Dumferline (destroyed by Reformers in the 16th century). While hagiographers tend focus on her commitment to crafting church vestments and ornaments, Margaret was even more renowned in her day for charity and kindness to the poor, especially children and the elderly.
Collect for Margaret of Scotland: O God, you called your servant Margaret to an earthly throne that she might advance your heavenly kingdom, and gave her zeal for your Church and love for your people: Mercifully grant that we who commemorate her this day may be fruitful in good works, and attain to the glorious crown of your saints; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
William Temple (1881-1944) was a member of the clergy in the Church of England, who became Bishop of Manchester (1921-1929), Archbishop of York (1929-1942), and Archbishop of Canterbury (1942-1944). His father, Frederick Temple, was also ordained and served as Bishop of Exeter (1869-1885), Bishop of London (1885-1896), and Archbishop of Canterbury (1896-1902). So William, who never knew his father in an official role other than as a bishop, was raised not only in the heart of the Church of England but also in the heart of the British Empire. Perhaps that inspired him to think that Anglican Christianity might be able to build with others a transcendent version of the British Empire, possessing the ability to transform both his own nation and the world. The best example of that firm conviction can be seen in his support of efforts to establish what would become, after his death, the World Council of Churches.
He excelled in his studies at Oxford, where he also lectured until his ordination, and used his noted intellect in his clerical vocation to help the Church of England look beyond its own walls to the needs of society. That passion for social justice, which he expressed in both word and deed, was grounded in his belief in the truth of the Incarnation (i.e., the doctrine that God, in Jesus Christ, “became flesh, and lived among us”). It led Temple to view as sacred every individual and, indeed, all of life.
Before his appointment as a bishop, Temple resigned a comfortable living as the Rector of St. James’s Church, Piccadilly, in London in order to become a leader in the “Life and Liberty” movement. That popular effort to reform the governance of the Church of England successfully added the voice of the laity in a more democratic structure.
Temple became Archbishop of Canterbury during World War II and died on October 26, 1944, after only two and a half years in that role. He did not live to see the end of those hostilities or the results of some of the seeds that he planted, but his hope for the future was nicely summarized in the title of his last book, published in the year of his death: The Church Looks Forward.
Collect for William Temple: O God of light and love, who illumined your Church through the witness of your servant William Temple: Inspire us, we pray, by his teaching and example, that we may rejoice with courage, confidence, and faith in the Word made flesh, and may be led to establish that city which has justice for its foundation and love for its law; through Jesus Christ, the light of the world, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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124 comments on “Margaret of Scotland vs. William Temple”
William Temple. Because he understood that God wants God's justice done - every moment, every day, with every person, everywhere. Did the ABoC accomplish that? No. But he focused on it, preached it, wrote about it, and left us with that charge. (And for the record, although I mentally inserted the word "later" into Margaret's bio vis-a-vis those chapels and their destroyers ... I have been told that in Scotland, anything is possible ... so she *could* have time-traveled!)
I hope that this will clear up the confusion regarding Margaret of Scotland's purported efforts in rebuilding the abbeys at Iona and Dumferline.
The Iona Abbey was established in 563 by Columba (headed to the Saintly 16) and dismantled in the 1500's during the Scottish Reformation. The final work on its restoration came during the late 1800's through gifts from the Duke of Argyle. The Dumferline Abbey was sacked around 1560 and rebuilt around 1570 by Robert Drummond of Carnock. Clearly Margaret was in no way involved in the restoration of these Scottish cultural treasures.
As commented on previously by others Margaret detested the native Celts and their ways and did all within her power to drive them out. She was no friend to the Highlanders.
Much of the information that we have on Margaret comes from her biographer, Turgot of Durham. It should be noted that Turgot wrote this biography after Margaret died and at a time when his personal fortunes were being greatly advanced by her son, King David the First of Scotland.
If you vote for Margaret because you share her name or are associated with a parish with her name that is fine. However many of us with family ties to Scotland will have a different view.
As I have voted oduring Lent Madness, I have found that I enjoy the comments as much as I like the saintly bios. I usually vote before reading, and, so far, haven't regretted voting for the saint I chose. I'm learning a lot and having fun--it's great to be connected to all you cool Episcopalians! And, if it matters, today I voted for Temple . . . 🙂
Luri, of course it matters that you voted for Temple--although I'd love to see him 'win', I'm just happy to see that there are a few hundred people other than me who read and like his work. For years I've had reason to believe I was close to the only one! 🙂
Thanks for sharing some bits of that work with us in the comments. 🙂
Luri, I also vote prior to reading the replies. But after I google each saintly candidate. I am not as well read of these honorable candidates but I am enjoying the learning experience. Even the Monday videos are entertaining. I am still wondering if I can get that saintly book for a kobo? Hail to the Queen of Scotland, loved or not she has my vote. Lenten Madness is a joy.
Well, not a whole lot there. We are getting to the Cinderallas of the contest, so based on past results (no male saint has won against a St. Woman) I'm guessing the woman will get the vote.
But in 2010 and 2011, men won the golden halo . . . it could happen again, unless Brigid gets to the final round!
What about Mary Magdalene going all the way ?
Oh dear; you're really trashing her reputation!
"What about Mary Magdalene going all the way ?"
What about Monnica & Evelyn, Brigid, or Emma of Hawai'i "going all the way" ?
Besides, The JoA/MM bracket will overload the servers!
The Saintly Sixteen is going to get it down!
posted 9:07 pm CDST
Isn't that her reputation? From tradition, if not Tradition.
Oh Flower of Scotland
When will we see
Your like again,
That fought and died for
Your wee bit Hill and Glen
And stood against him
Proud Edward's Army,
And sent him homeward
Tae think again.
The Hills are bare now
And Autumn leaves lie thick and still
O'er land that is lost now
Which those so dearly held
That stood against him
Proud Edward's Army
And sent him homeward
Tae think again.
Those days are past now
And in the past they must remain
But we can still rise now
And be the nation again
That stood against him
Proud Edward's Army
And sent him homeward,
Tae think again.
Methinks this is well said, but too late for my vote. Yours?
I was one of the people posting in Scots Gaelic yesterday. Who do you think received my vote?
My wording was poor. Are the verses your creation?
http://youtu.be/Or50fEiwI0w
Yeah, Tim, you'd better!
Amen, sister!
Hey, anybody who has 8 kids is probably a saint!
Margaret has my vote! I wrote a novel about her (Queen Hereafter, Random House, 2010/11) -- what a lovely and complex lady. May she wear the Golden Halo -- she would have liked that.
It's shallow, I know, but I saw the word vestments and knew that I had to vote for Margaret!
Anyone who can have 8 kids and still be a saint gets my vote! Sorry William...I'm sure you were a great guy and all...
We voted for Rapunzel (aka Margaret) who is wearing a golden halo.
We are still upset that Santa Claus lost.
8:44 pm CDST
I've checked back several times after I voted and it is still 52% to 48% even though the vote count is increasing.
Tom & Scott, how about a short double bracket for Advent, just a warm up. Or an invitational cool-down bracket based on those who were bumped from the Saintly Sixteen or Elite Eight.
Remember: Tote bag with completed 2012 bracket or at least an iron-on graphic.
How could anyone pick a saint who did the usual - charity to the poor etc.- over the man who helped to create the World Council of Churches? Come on people, let's get serious about the voting process. By the way, William has my vote, just to be perfectly clear.
If charity to the poor was the usual, we'd have more saints.
Wow, this is tough, for one with a Scottish maiden name (and a traceable heritage to Mary, Queen of Scots, and the Black Douglas who took Robert the Bruce's heart to Jerusalem)...but I'm really taken with ABC Temple. Need to know more to defend my choice, but that's where I'm headed, even at this late hour. Thanks, everyone, for your insights!
I'm going for Temple because he bravely made prophetic steps that were beyond his day, in ecumenism and in his passion for social justice. Margaret is also an amazing example of faith, but she served the poor whereas Temple did something to change their lot.
PS the "pretty nice girl" just sounds misogynistic, magesty or no.
*majesty
It seems that Margaret confirmed Christianity in Scotland. Her faith, her charity and her children cemented Scot Christianity. She bloomed where she, finally, landed. Nothing against William, but it's Margaret today.
*snap*
A heartbreaker, this one!
Ah well. Off to Tarsus...
You are having too much fun for Lent. Beware!
Have I been bumped? Was it something I wrote? B.O? Wrong deodorant? Who did I offend? You bumped me??? How many mea culpas do I have to say before being reinstated? Mercy !!!!! I wasn't that bad, was I? No posting to day and I can't vote !!!