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ARCHIVE OF BRITISH SAINTS (M-O)St. Oswald, King and Martyr (642) fd: 5 August It is fitting that this Christian King of Northumbria should be venerated at the beginning of that month in which his partner in the Gospel, the holy Bishop and Missioner should have reposed. St. Oswald repelled pagan incursions by Cadwalla into his kingdom, most notably at a battle in which he was heavily outnumbered. He gained this victory by commanding his army to pray before a great wooden cross. Cadwalla was routed and St. Oswald began to re-evangelise his kingdom for Christ. In this he secured the ministry of a certain Irish monk from Iona called Aidan who had proved himself already by his sanctity and pastoral concern for the people. Such was the humility and devotion to Christ of the King that he regularly accompanied St. Aidan on his travels and acting as his interpreter in preaching, for St. Aidan was initially unfamiliar with the local language. In this he was the model Christian King; leading by example. St. Oswald filled his kingdom with churches and monasteries. Northumbria then extended as far as Edinburgh and so great was the fame of this Christian monarch that St. Adamnan in the life of St. Columba styled him as the "Emperor of Britain." St. Aidan was devoted to his friend and sorely wounded in spirit when the pagan king, Penda, once again attacked Northumbria and killed St. Oswald. He was slain in battle at 38 on 5 August 642 at a place called Maserfield. Penda dismembered St. Oswald's body but it was recovered by the King's saintly brother, Oswi who despatched some of the relics to Lindisfarne, St. Aidan's monastic foundation. Although St. Oswald's earthly kingdom was subsequently to be over run yet again by the Danes this in no way diminishes his significance in the eyes of the Church. To the contrary, as a kingly martyr for Christ the King, St. Oswald has an assured place both in the Kingdom of God and in our hearts. Holy Oswald pray for us that Christ our God may have mercy on our souls! Amen. |
