Saint Oswald
Saint Oswald of Northumbria (born c. 604 AD in Bamburgh, Northumbria; died August 5, 642 AD in Oswestry, Shropshire, England) was a Christian king of Northumbria who brought Saint Aidan from Iona to evangelize his kingdom and established the monastery of Lindisfarne — the "Holy Island" that became the center of English Christianity in the 7th century. He was killed in battle against the pagan king Penda of Mercia. He is venerated as a royal martyr. His feast day is August 5.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Oswald
| Saint Oswald | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | August 05 |
| Profession | King of Northumbria (633–642 AD); royal martyr; founder of Lindisfarne; patron of missionaries |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Church of England (venerated); Eastern Orthodox Church (minor veneration); Northumbrian Christianity; Irish-Northumbrian monastic tradition; 7th-century English Church |
| Patronage | Northumbria; England (historically); travelers and pilgrims; horses (from the Heavenfield healing miracle); those who die in battle; royalty who serve the Church; Oswestry, Shropshire |
| Attributes | King's crown; sword (royal authority and martyrdom); wooden cross (Heavenfield); ravens or crows (battle-field symbol); the right arm (special relic); Lindisfarne island |
| Birthplace | Bamburgh, Northumbria, England |
| Death Place | Maserfield (Oswestry), Shropshire, England |
| Cause of Death | Martyrdom; killed in battle at Maserfield (near modern Oswestry, Shropshire) on August 5, 642 AD, by the forces of the pagan king Penda of Mercia; he is recorded as having prayed for his soldiers as he fell; his body was dismembered by Penda (a pagan act of humiliation); Bede records that he died "in prayer for his soldiers" |
| Primary Shrine | Durham Cathedral — his head relic buried with Cuthbert (behind the high altar); Lindisfarne Priory ruins — the monastery he founded by inviting Aidan; Heavenfield, Northumberland — the battle-cross site; Oswestry, Shropshire — named for him |
| Liturgical Class | Optional Memorial (Roman Rite); August 5; Feast in England, Ireland, and Germany |
| Historic Class | Not in universal 1962 calendar; observed in England |
Biography
Oswald was born c. 604, son of King Æthelfrith of Northumbria. After his father's death in 616, he spent his youth in exile on Iona, where the Irish monks baptized and educated him.
In 634 he returned to Northumbria and, before the Battle of Heavenfield (near Hexham), erected a wooden cross and prayed with his soldiers. He defeated and killed the British king Cadwallon and became king of Northumbria.
Around 635 he invited Aidan from Iona to evangelize Northumbria. Aidan chose the island of Lindisfarne as his base. Oswald served as Aidan's interpreter in the early years of the mission. The monastery of Lindisfarne became the center of Christian life in 7th-century England.
Oswald was killed at the Battle of Maserfield (Oswestry) on August 5, 642, by the pagan king Penda of Mercia. Bede records that his last words were a prayer for his soldiers. His body was dismembered by Penda. His head was eventually buried with Cuthbert at Durham.
The town of Oswestry takes its name from him: "Oswald's Tree."
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Bamburgh, Northumbria, England
Death location: Maserfield (Oswestry), Shropshire, England
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Parishes
No parishes dedicated to Oswald have been added to the database yet.
Media
| Media | Length | AuthorCreator |
|---|---|---|
| February 29 Saint Oswald | Under 5 minutes | Breski1 |
| Saint of the Day: August 5th - King Saint Oswald | 5–15 minutes | Butler's Lives of the Saints |
| Prayer to St. Oswald | Under 5 minutes | Joy of Heaven |
| Saint Oswald: Warrior King, Christian Saint and Martyr of Northumbria | Under 5 minutes | Leyendas De Santos |
| Saint Oswald, Bishop - February 28th (29th in leap years) | Under 5 minutes | Saint of the Day |
| St. Oswald | Warrior King, Christian Saint, and Martyr of Northumbria #catholicchurch #history | Under 5 minutes | Saints Stories |
| The Archbishop Who Washed the Feet of the Poor | Under 5 minutes | The Saint of the Day Podcast |
Shrines
Dynamic shrines
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No shrines where this saint is the primary saint.
Known shrines
- Durham Cathedral — his head relic buried with Cuthbert.
- Lindisfarne Priory ruins, Holy Island — monastery he founded.
- Heavenfield, Northumberland — battle-cross site; small chapel; pilgrimage.
Feast day
August 5
Veneration
Saint Oswald is a royal martyr and the king who founded the monastery of Lindisfarne by inviting Saint Aidan from Iona. His dying prayer for his soldiers became one of the most celebrated acts of Christian virtue in English history. His feast is August 5.
Prayers
Authored
There are prayers authored by this saint in prayers list yet.
Intercessory
There are no prayers asking for this saint's intercession in prayers list yet.