Scottish Catholic Observer

The title actually has its origins in a longer tome. “I was writing a much longer book, a history of the Franciscans in Scotland from the 13th century on,” he explained, “and one chapter was about Margaret Sinclair. A friend suggested I expand it, so I did some more research and here we are.”

Dr Watts, a parishioner of St Thomas Addiewell, stresses that all the facts in the book are accurate.

“I used entirely first hand primary sources, which is very important,” he said. “A lot of books about her have retold the events read in previous books not entirely accurately. I went to original sources, her own correspondence, and above all witness statements produced under oath for her cause in 1932 and 1951.”

Dr Watts, a former school teacher who describes himself as a historian by accident, having written a dozen books since retirement, said that he believes her lasting appeal was because she was one of the people.

“Margret Sinclair is not a distant saint; she is easy to imitate,” he said. “The things she did and said were simple enough and so within our reach. She exemplified Vatican II’s emphasis that all are called to holiness in whatever our condition. And some of her circumstances were not promising but she rose to the occasion.

“You know, the vast majority of the Faithful are ordinary punters, and Margaret was an ordinary punter too, though extraordinary as well of course.”

Having researched the saint extensively, he said that one thing that stood out to him was her mysticism. Some of the works on Margaret Sinclair have explored the possibility that she may have had visitations of Christ or Our Lady. Her confessor, he said, certainly believed she had. “Her mysticism has never been fully highlighted,” he added

He concludes that the cause of her sainthood has been given ‘fresh impetus by the present archbishop.’

“He has given a good strong lead on this, trying to give new impetus to the cause in various ways. I hope this booklet will make a small contribution to that just by getting as wide a number of people as possible to read the story of her life.”

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