It has been said that there are two ways to be charitable; a clean way and a messy way. The “clean way” is to give money or clothing to organizations that serve best and consistently those in need; a perfectly good thing and many of us do this. The “messy way” is by dirtying your own hands, a hands-on up close and in-person approach. Two saints of this month, Margaret of Scotland (Nov 16th) and Elizabeth of Hungary (Nov 17th) were outstanding in this approach; messy helpers. Royal title, bloodline or status did not impede either, in a time when these divisions meant everything.
Margaret of Scotland was a truly liberated woman in the sense that she was free to be herself. Not Scottish by birth, Margaret was the daughter of Princess Agatha of Hungary. She spent much of her youth in the court of her great-uncle, the English king, Edward the Confessor. Then, her family, shipwrecked off the coast of Scotland while fleeing the persecutions of William the Conqueror, was befriended by King Malcolm who was captivated by the beautiful and gracious Margaret. They were married at the castle of Dunfermline in 1070.
Margaret as queen and mother was very much caught up in the affairs of the household and country, yet she remained detached from the world. Her private life was austere. She had certain times for prayer and reading Scripture. She ate sparingly and slept little in order to have time for devotions. She and Malcolm kept two Lents, one before Easter and one before Christmas. During these times she always rose at midnight for Mass. On the way home from Mass she would wash the feet of the poor and give them alms. She was always surrounded by beggars in public and never refused them. It is recorded that she never sat down to eat without first feeding nine orphans and 24 adults. Very generous with material gifts, Margaret also visited the sick and nursed them herself. Like Christ, with towel and basin, charitable, the “messy way.”
Then there was Elizabeth, daughter of Andrew II, King of Hungary. Incredibly at the age of 6 she sought peace with prayer after the murder of her mother, a consequence of the conflict between German and the Hungarian nobles. By the age of 14, happiness returned when she was married to the nobleman, Louis of Thuringia, whom she deeply loved. They had three children.
With a Franciscan friar as a guide, she led a life of prayer, sacrifice, and service to the poor and sick. Seeking to become one with the poor, she wore simple clothing. Daily she would take bread to hundreds of the poorest in the land who came to her gate.
Elizabeth understood well the lesson Jesus taught in washing his disciples’ feet: the Christian must be one who serves the humblest needs of others, even if one serves from an exalted position. Of royal blood, Elizabeth could have lorded it over her subjects. Yet she served them from a loving heart so that her brief life won for her a special place in the hearts of many.
In her short life, Elizabeth became the patroness of Catholic charities and of the Secular Franciscan Order. She is also the patron of bakers. She chose a life of penance and asceticism when a life of leisure and luxury could easily have been hers. This choice endeared her in the hearts of the common people throughout Europe.
Elizabeth’s remaining final years were spent caring for the poor in a hospital founded by her in honour of Saint Francis of Assisi. Elizabeth’s health declined, and she died before her 24th birthday in 1231.
A thousand years later, what has changed? Who are the ones in need today? What do they need? How can I give? What boundaries do I need to break through to help? Are my hands messy?