A Two Saint Day--Doubly Blessed

Our first saint is St. Gertrude, often called "the Great" ( the only woman who is so designed). She was born in 1256 and was sent to the Cistercian monastery school--where she remained for the rest of her life--at 4 years old. She began receiving a series of visions of Jesus about the age of 25. She is known for her devotion to the souls in purgatory, and to the poor and the dying. St. Margaret of Scotland is going to sound a bit like tomorrow's saint. She is credited with civilizing her Scottish husband, with establishing shrines and churches, including a ferry to take people to St. Andrew's shrine, and with generally encouraging piety at a time (12 century) when paganism was still established. She is the mother of 4 Scottish kings, and 8 children in all. Saints Margaret and Gertrude, pray for us!