Saint of the day - August 5
Oswald was the second son of King Æthelfred of Northumbria. His father was killed in a battle in 617, and the children sought refuge in Scotland and converted to Christianity there. In 633, Oswald returned to Northumbria and soon he was anointed king.
Realizing that there was no other way for the welfare of his subjects, than to bring them to the spiritual kingdom of God, the king strove tirelessly to achieve eternal glory with them. It was at this time that Northumbria was invaded by King Cadwallon, the tyrant of Britain.
Cadwallon burnt most of the area to the ground and put the people to the sword. Oswald then assembled what army he could gather, and trusting in Jesus, marched down to face the mighty enemy.
He met his enemies near Carlisle, close to Hexam. On approaching the enemy's camp, the pious king hastily made a wooden cross. After placing it on the battlefield, he said to his soldiers: 'Let us all kneel and pray together to our one mighty God. He knows that we are fighting to save our lives and our country”.
Hearing his instructions, the soldiers kneeled down and started praying silently. The merciful God gave Oswald's army a miraculous victory over Cadwallon’s vast army, and Cadwallon was killed in the battle.
The place where the king planted the cross was later known as Heavenfield. This cross later became very famous and many miracles happened around it. Following that victory, Saint Oswald thanked God and implemented welfare schemes in the territories under his dominion. He spread the devotion to Christ in those regions.
Oswald built many churches and monasteries in his territories. Along with ruling his mortal kingdom, he was also making internal preparations for the immortal kingdom. He ruled his kingdom very well for about eight years.
Later, Penda, the heathen king of Mercia, invaded the territories of Northumbria. Oswald confronted Penda with a small army. King Oswald was killed at Maserfield, near Oswestry, on August 5, 642, at the age of thirty-eight.
After murdering King Oswald, the Mercians dismembered his limbs and head, and placed them on a wooden cross to make a tree. Oswald's successor brother took them to his palace and later buried them with Saint Cuthbert's body.
Other Saints of the Day
1. Saint Addal
2. Saint Cassian of Autun
3. Saint Memmius
4. Saint Theodoric
5. Saint Cantidius
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