Traudel
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 Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 7:45 pm Post subject: August 5th - St. Oswald of Northumbria |
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August 5th - St. Oswald of Northumbria
(AD 605-AD 642)
St. Oswald was the eldest son of the pagan King Aethelfrith of Bernicia by
his
second marriage to Princess Aacha of Deira. He was probably born in AD 605
at
the height of his father's power, just after he had invaded the Kingdom of
Deira
and forced its king, Edwin, to flee. He was probably born at Yeavering,
though
perhaps Aacha preferred the newly acquired Deiran Court, from which her
brother
was expelled, at York. At the age of only eleven, however, it was Oswald who
found himself on the run, when King Edwin reconquered Northumbria, with
forces
gathered in East Anglia.
Queen Aacha took her children to the Court of Dalriadan King, Eochaid Buide,
at
Dunadd in modern Scotland. Here, the family was converted to Christianity by
monks from Iona Abbey and Oswald and his brother, Oswiu, were sent to the
same
monastery to be educated. Little is known of these formative years in the
far
North, but it does appear that Oswald became a brave warrior at an early
age,
accompanying King Connad Cerr of Dalriada to Ireland to fight against
Maelcaich
and the Irish Cruithne at the Battle of Fid Eoin in AD 628.
While Oswald was growing up, his old enemy, King Edwin, had been waging a
major
war against the allied forced of Gwynedd and Mercia. In AD 633, he was
killed in
battle and Oswald's elder half-brother, Eanfrith, was able to establish
himself
on the Bernician throne for a almost a year. However, he was just as
unpopular
as Edwin with the Northern Welsh and the Mercians who were prompt in his
capture
and execution. Despite having a baby son still exiled in Pictland, Oswald
clearly saw himself as his brother's heir, probably with encouragement from
the
Northumrbians. As his father was Bernician and his mother, Deiran, he was
one of
the few people who could unite the Kingdom.
Having been lent a small force of men by King Domnall Brecc of Dalriada
(including monks from Iona), Oswald marched south to claim his inheritance.
He
clashed with King Cadwallon of Gwynedd at the Battle of Heavenfield. Oswald
raised a large cross their before the fight and the prayers of his soldiers
around it are said to have contributed to the King's victory, despite the
superior numbers of the Welsh army. Triumphantly he marched into York, while
the
Dowager Queen Ethelburga of Deira and her family fled from Yeavering and the
new
King's expected wrath.
Oswald's reputation as a saint originates in his re-introduction of
Christianity
to Northumbria. The chief among the monks who accompanied him from Dalriada
initially attempted to convert the Northumbrians, but met with little
success.
So Oswald sent to the monks of Iona for an evangelical Bishop. St. Aidan,
Bishop
of Scattery Island in Ireland, arrived the following year and set up a
strong
missionary movement centred on Lindisfarne, near the Royal Court at
Bamburgh. It
was at the latter that the famous legend took place which resulted in St.
Aidan
blessing the King's arm and making it incorruptable, even in death. King
Oswald
himself often acted as an ecclesiastical interpreter for the new
Northumbrian
Bishop who spoke only Gaelic.
Oswald further increased the spread of Christianity in Britain by
pressurizing
King Cynegils of Wessex to allow St. Birinus to preach to his people. Oswald
eventually agreed to a strategic alliance with the southern king, cemented
by
his marriage to Cynegils' daughter and the latter's baptism with Oswald
standing
as Godfather.
Such bonds were important to Oswald and he did not forget his old allies,
the
Dalriadan Kings, who had helped him gain his throne. For he appears to have
sent
troops to Ireland to assist King Domnall Brecc and his ally, King Congal
Caech
of Ulster, during the Irish dynastic wars. By AD 638, Oswald was in a secure
position at home and he turned to expansionism. His army moved north and
besieged and captured Din Eitin (Edinburgh). Then, in a stroke of, what
appears
to have been, diplomatic genius, he arranged for his brother, Prince Oswiu,
to
marry Princess Rhiainfelt, the last remaining heiress of North Rheged. The
old
Celtic kingdom was subsequently swallowed up by Northumbria in a peaceful
takeover. Oswiu continued to expand the kingdom's borders by taking his
brothers
armies to Gododdin and conquering modern lowland Scotland as far north as
Manau.
The Venerable Bede claims that the King was thus recognised as Bretwalda by
all
of Saxon England.
There were, however, forces gathering who wished to bring to an end King
Oswald's glorious reign in Britain. In AD 642, the old Northumbrian enemy,
King
Penda of Mercia gathered a large united Welsh and Mercian force against King
Oswald. The Welsh contingent included the armies of Gwynedd, Powys and
Pengwern.
They clashed at Maserfield, now Oswestry (Oswald's Tree) in Shropshire on
5th
August, and Oswald was killed.
Oswald was succeeded by his brother, Oswiu, in the Kingdom of Northumbria,
but
his body remained in enemy territory. It was hacked to pieces by the victors
of
Oswestry and his head and arms stuck on poles. An old legend has one arm
taken
to his sacred ash tree (Oswald's Tree) by his constant companion, a pet
raven.
Where it fell a holy well sprang up. Thus, Oswald came to be revered as a
Christian martyr and his dismembered limbs eventually found there way into
various relic collections in monasteries around the country. His body was
removed to Bardney Abbey and later translated to St. Oswald's in Gloucester.
The King's Royal Standard of purplish-red and gold, once to be seen at
Bardney
(and probably the banner which found its way to Durham), forms the basis of
the
coat of arms of modern Nothumberland. Popular iconography depicts the King
wearing a crown and carrying sceptre and orb, the ciborium (showing his
charity
to the poor), a sword, a palm-branch or his raven companion.
Taken from:
http://www.earlybritishkingdoms.com/adversaries/bios/oswald.html
Saint Quote:
Humility is the mother of many virtues. From it spring obedience, holy
fear,
reverence, patience, modesty, mildness, and peace; for, whoever is humble
easily
obeys all, fears to offend any, maintains peace with all, shows himself
affable
to all, is submissive to all, does not offend or displease any, and does not
feel the insults which may be inflicted upon him. He lives happy and
contented,
and in great peace.
-St. Thomas of Villanova
Bible Quote
16. And when you fast, be not as the hypocrites, sad. For they disfigure
their
faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Amen I say to you, they have
received their reward. 17. But thou, when thou fastest anoint thy head, and
wash
thy face; 18. That thou appear not to men to fast, but to thy Father who is
in
secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret, will repay thee. (Matthew
6:16-18)
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Canticle 1 Chronicles 29
To God alone be honour and glory
Blessed are you, Lord, God of our father Israel, through all the ages.
All power and greatness are yours, O God; glory, splendour, and majesty.
All things are yours, in the heavens and on the earth; you rule over them,
Lord,
you are high above them all.
All riches and glory come from you, you rule over all things.
In your hand lie strength and power, your hand raises all things and sets
them
firm.
So now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen. |
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