August 5
Saint Oswald of Northumbria
King, Martyr
(Around 604 – 642)
“Let us now kneel down, and jointly pray to the Omnipotent, and only true God, that he would mercifully defend us from our proud enemy; for he knows that we fight in a just war in defense of our lives and country.”
Saint Oswald of Northumbria
Saint’s Life Story
His Unknown Early Life
Oswald was the son of the pagan King Aethelfrith the Ravager of Bernicia and Princess Aacha of Deira born around 604. He was the second of seven children. One of his brothers was Saint Ebbe the Elder and was the nephew of Saint Ethelreda. His father was killed in battle when Oswald was eleven years old. After his death, his mother fled with the family for the court of King Eochaid Buide at Dunadd in modern Scotland. There, Oswald converted to Christianity. At the Iona Abbey, he was educated with his brother Oswiu. Oswald thus spent the remainder of his youth in the Scottish kingdom of Dál Riata in northern Britain.
Soldier
Oswald was a soldier who was known to have fought at the Battle of Fid Eoin in 628. Contemporary writings describe him as having “arms of great length and power, eyes bright blue, hair yellow, face long and beard thin, and his small lips wearing a kindly smile”. Reported to have had a pet raven for years. After a previous battle, Cadwallon, the king of Gwynedd, in alliance with the pagan Penda of Mercia, killed Saint Edwin of Deira in battle at Hatfield Chase in 633. Northumbria was split into its two kingdoms of Bernicia and Deira. Oswald’s brother Eanfrith became king of Bernicia, but he was killed by Cadwallon around 634 after attempting to negotiate peace.
Knelt before a Wooden Cross Before Battle
In 634, Oswald formed his own army and returned to Northumbria. Before the commencement of battle, inspired by a vision of Saint Columba the previous night (as recounted by Adomnán in his Life of St Columba), Oswald knelt before a large wooden Cross, commanding his army to join him in earnest prayer. Here, he defeated King Cadwallon of Gwynedd and took the throne of Northumbria. His council agreed that they would be baptised and accept Christianity after the battle, and, in spite of their greater numbers, the pagan British were heavily defeated by the soon-to-be-baptised Northumbrian. Oswald attributed his win to his faith and the intervention of the saint, and the victory is known as the Battle of Heavenfield.
King of a United Northumbria
As a result of his victory at Heavenfield, Oswald reigned over a united Northumbria. He was established as the most powerful king in the British Isles. Adomnán describes him as “ordained by God as Emperor of all Britain”), while Saint Bede states that he “brought under his dominion all the nations and provinces of Britain”.
Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne
Oswald invited the Irish of Dál Riata to send a bishop – Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne– to help convert his subject. Oswald furnished Aidan with the island of Lindisfarne that would be his center of operations and episcopal see. Oswald often acted as his interpreter when Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne was preaching, as Saint Aidan’s grasp of Anglo-Saxon was initially poor, whereas Oswald was a good Irish-speaker. One Easter he was about to dine with Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne. A crowd of poor came begging alms. Oswald gave them all the food and the wealth he carried on him, then had his silver table settings broken up and distributed. Saint Aidan was so moved by the king‘s generosity that he grasped Oswald’s right hand and exclaimed, “May this hand never perish!” For years after, the king was considered invincible. The hand has, indeed, survived, as it is enshrined as a relic in the Bamburgh church.
His Death
On August 5, 642, Oswald was killed in battle in Maserfield (probably at Oswestry), Shropshire, England, and thus often listed as a martyr. He was dismembered at the hands of the pagan King Penda of Mercia. According to Saint Bede, his final act in the face of imminent death was to pray for the souls of his own soldiers. Oswald was noted for his personal spirituality, piety, faith, his devotion to the kingdom, his charity to the poor, and his willingness to take arms to defend his throne.
The site of Oswald’s death soon came to be associated with miracles. Many regarded his death as a martyrdom, though Saint Bede sees his sanctity as consisting more in his great personal holiness, and, in particular, in his love and compassion towards the poor.
Born: Around 604 in Northumbria, England
Died: Augst 5, 642 in Maserfield, Shropshire, England
Beatified: Pre-Congregation
Canonized: Pre-Congregation
Feast Day: August 5
Patron Saint: Harvesters; Zug, Switzerland
Reflection
Saint Oswald of Northumbria did not store his treasures for a rainy day. On Easter, when he was about to dine with Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne. A crowd of poor people came begging for alms. Oswald gave them all the food and the wealth he carried on him. Then, he had his silver table settings broken up and distributed.
Has God has blessed you with more riches than others? Do not forget the churches, the hospitals, the poor. This will give you comfort in your dying hour. You will be better able to justify yourself before the judgment seat of the most High, when you are called to give an account of your stewardship.
Prayers
Saint Oswald of Northumbria,
Martyr and protector of the faithful, Pray for us, that like you, setting up the sign of the cross in your kingdom and turned your people to the light of Christ, we may also have our faith kindled with your Spirit to be filled with the courage to live out our Christian calling, to seek peace in times of conflict, and to bear witness to the love of Christ in all we do.
May your example of service, faith, and perseverance inspire us to follow the path of holiness and may we find the strength to carry our crosses with joy being faithful servants of the gospel while trusting always in God’s providence.
We ask this through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, now and for ever.
Saint Oswald of Northumbria, pray for us. Amen.
Saint Links
AnaStpaul – Saint of the Day – 5 August – Saint Oswald of Northumbria (c 604-642) Martyr
Bartleby.com – Rev. Alban Butler Volume VIII: August. The Lives of the Saints. 1866. August 5 St. Oswald, King and Martyr
Catholic Ireland – Aug 5 – St Oswald, King and Martyr
Catholic Online – St. Oswald
CatholicSaints.Info – Weninger’s Lives of the Saints – Saint Oswald, King
CatholicSaints.Info – Saint Oswald, King and Martyr, by Father Oswald Bennett, CP
Independent Catholic News – St Oswald of Northumbria
New Advent – Parker, A. (1911). St. Oswald. In The Catholic Encyclopedia
Saint for a Minute – Saint Oswald of Northumbria
Saints Alive – St. Oswald, Martyr