St. Margaret was known to perform many works of charity. The ship has a threefold function: it displays St. Margaret's charitable act of establishing a ferry for pilgrims in Scotland, it honors the early Hungarian settlers who founded the Albany/Springfield community, and it hearkens to the ancient Christian symbol of the Church described as an ark carrying the faithful towards heaven.
St. Margaret was able to have access to a Benedictine education in a religious Hungarian court. The future queen was able to study great theological and philosophical works such as St. Augustine’s Confessions. She would eventually bring about many great reforms and achievements that helped improve her country and the lives of her subjects.
St. Margaret’s parents were pious people; her devoted heart was also a fruit of their prayers and example. The Hungarian coat of arms is placed between the archways to portray the setting of her formation in faith.
After her early years in Hungary, St. Margaret returned to England, but William the Conqueror’s Norman Invasion in 1066 forced her family to flee once again. She tried to flee with her family to Northumbria, but a chaotic storm knocked her ship off course and they landed in Fife. This misfortune is depicted with God’s saving hand spotted descending from the heavens.
St. Margaret married Malcolm III, and she became Queen of Scotland. Heraldic flags signify the houses being unified. The standards shown are the house of Wessex’s green and white flag with a red dragon and her grandfather’s flag (St. Edward the Confessor’s) in blue with a gold cross and five gold birds. Malcolm’s house is represented with the traditional Scottish standard of royalty, a red lion on a yellow field.
St. Margaret and Malcolm were a fruitful couple, having eight children. They are seated in the center flanked by their progeny. The depictions and gestures reveal the identity of each figure. David I of Scotland, one of her sons, also was canonized and was known for building many religious buildings including a chapel dedicated to his mother.
St. Margaret died before she reached the age of fifty, partially because she lived a life of austerity and fasting. The detail of the sun in the window can be looked upon as either setting or rising – setting to represent the end of her natural life and rising to represent her birth into everlasting life.
St. Margaret’s devout prayer life was the source of all her charitable works. She was known to frequently attend midnight Mass and had a special devotion to Christ in the Eucharist. A connection to her Albany/Springfield community can also be noted as it was the birthplace of a religious order of consecrated women – the Missionary Catechists, Servants of the Eucharist.
Following Mass, her greatest form of prayer entailed many long hours in the morning meditating upon Sacred Scripture. She loved to pray alone with the Psalms in a cave. In Scotland, this place of prayer became known as St. Margaret's Cave, and to this day, it is a pilgrimage site.
After being filled with the Body and Blood of Christ and the Word of God, St. Margaret would fast from the first meal of her day until the needy were attended. This is depicted here with the vision of an empty chair and table full of food. The room is being neglected but St. Margaret is shown, in action, feeding the poor.
St. Margaret’s many works did not distract her from her vocation as a wife and mother. She took her vocation to marriage seriously and lived it as a path to holiness. This depiction is an image of her family life and the love and tenderness she shared with them.
St. Margaret interceded for people who were unjustly imprisoned. This happened especially in times of war. The Scots would often capture non-combatant farmers and serfs; she advocated for their freedom and assured justice was served.
The queen followed Christ’s example of service just as was displayed in His washing of the disciples’ feet. Despite her ranking status, St. Margaret would bathe people who could no longer care for themselves while performing other works of mercy.
Before retiring for the night, St. Margaret would stitch garments for priests. In her life, she cared about the beauty of Christ and His Church. She oversaw the construction of many churches that glorified God and helped sanctify the people of her land.
St. Margaret, Queen of Scotland Catholic Church is a Christian family in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge created to be a sign of Christ’s presence in eastern Livingston civil Parish (the communities of Albany, Springfield, Holden, Killian, and Hammond).
Guided by the Holy Spirit, we are committed to use our time, talent and treasures to proclaim the Word, celebrate faith through meaningful liturgies and sacramental rites, support and strengthen families, nourish the spiritual formation of our members through continuing education and social ministries, develop the strengths and talents of our young people through religious education and service programs and to live out our belief in effective witness and service to people in need.
March 14/15 – Third Sunday of Lent
March 21/22 – Fourth Sunday of Lent
March 28/29 – Fifth Sunday of Lent
April 04/05 – Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion
Theology in a Bottle 2019-2020
Yummy for Your Tummy 2019-2020
Pilgrimage to Hungary Flyer (01.26.20 Bulletin Flyer)
Pilgrimage to Italy Flyer (01.26.20 Bulletin Flyer)
Confessions -(Cancelled) St. Margaret Church, Albany
When:
April 4, 2020
3:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Confessions -(Cancelled) St. Margaret Church, Albany
When:
April 4, 2020
3:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Mass -(Cancelled) St. Margaret Church, Albany
When:
April 4, 2020
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
We are located right off of I-12 (Exit 32)
at 30300 Catholic Hall Road,
Hammond, Louisiana 70403