WITH eight children of her own, she was made Patron Saint of Mothers and helped establish Sunday as a day of rest, as well being named Patroness of Scotland.
Now a pilgrimage with its roots dating back to 1250 is to be set up again in the form of an annual family day out in honour of St Margaret.
A tour of holy sites in Dunfermline will be established again for the first time in 41 years.
It includes the cave where she prayed and the town's abbey which was believed to have housed St Margaret's most prized possession, a relic of the "true cross", and was an important staging post for Christian pilgrims.
St Margaret, who married Malcolm III of Scotland, was said to have played an influential role in early Christianity.
The early pilgrimage to Dunfermline also led to the naming of North and South Queensferry.
Archbishop Leo Cushley of St Andrews and Edinburgh diocese launched the modern pilgrimage that will take place in Dunfermline on Sunday June 28.
He said: "This will be a real family event to which everybody in Scotland is invited given that St Margaret is an inspirational figure for all Scots as well as a heavenly protectress of the people of our land."
It is hoped that pilgrims to Dunfermline will spend the day exploring the historic places associated with St Margaret before gathering in the afternoon for a procession of her relics through the town's streets led by a local school pipe band.
Fr Chris Heenan, of St Margaret's Memorial Church, said: "There's already quite a buzz about the revival of the pilgrimage which hasn't taken place in the town for 41 years.
"It will be a great day for all the folk of Dunfermline and everybody is very much invited to join in the occasion - not just Catholics."
The roots of the summer pilgrimage date back to June 1250 when the relics of St Margaret (1045-93) were translated to a new shrine in Dunfermline Abbey following her canonisation that year by Pope Innocent IV.
An annual summer pilgrimage to Dunfermline soon emerged and continued until the late 16th century. It was then revived in 1899 and continued again until 1974 when the tradition again fell away.
St Margaret became Queen of Scots in 1070. She was renowned for her good influence on her husband, King Malcolm III, but also for her devout Christian piety, her charitable works towards the sick and poor while raising eight children of her own.
She is credited with encouraging the observance of Sunday as a day of rest.
Saint Margaret was declared Patroness of Scotland in 1673.
Jack Pryde, who organises tours of Dunfermline for those interested in the life and legacy of St Margaret, said: "She is probably the most significant female figure in the history of Scotland and achieved a great amount of good.
"I've longed for the summer pilgrimage in her honour to be revived and am really delighted that it is finally happening."
Joining Archbishop Cushley to launch the event was Fife actress Katie Milne dressed as St Margaret.
Miss Milne, 29, from Dunfermline, said: "St Margaret is such a remarkable historical figure in Scotland's story as well as a fabulous role model for young Scots today - especially young women - it's an honour to represent her here today."
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