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The article discusses the criteria by which the Catholic Church elevates a woman into sainthood and uses the life of Saint Margaret of Scotland as a case in point. It describes Margaret as a queen with an extravagant way of life contrasted with an intense personal piety and a great practitioner of charity. It suggests that the Catholic Church evaluates women for sainthood by what they have accomplished in their own era.

The article looks at the treatment of the Catholic Church towards women during the medieval period. It points out that despite the elevation of Mary as being the Mother of God, it did not influence the Catholic Church in its negative attitude towards women. It suggests that through the biblical Mary, God works wonders on ordinary people regardless of gender, moral perfection and hierarchical position in the church.