24th May - Saint David the First of Scotland
On the Friday David the first of Scotland was anointed and given Viaticum, and then spent much time in praying psalms with his attendants. On Saturday they urged him to rest but he replied,“Let me rather think about the things of God, so that my spirit may set out strengthened on its journey from exile to home. When I stand before God’s tremendous judgement-seat, you will not be able to answer for me or defend me, no-one will be able to deliver me from His hand.”
Saint David was the youngest son of King Malcolm III (Canmore) of Scotland and his wife Margaret who is herself a saint. He was the King of Scotland from 1124 to 1153 and a social and religious Reformer, a man of great administrative skills, apostle of charity and of holy piety. He contributed enormously to setting up religious institutions in Scotland, and transformed his Kingdom by the widespread introduction of Catholic Churches and Monasteries. In 1113, in perhaps David's first act as Prince of the Cumbrians, he founded Selkirk Abbey for the Tironensians. David founded more than a dozen new monasteries in his reign, patronising various new monastic orders. He was the main force and instrument of God in Christianising Scotland.
