St Oswald
The seventh century saw the island of Britain divided among various Anglo-Saxon kingdoms set up by the Germanic invaders. Some of these had been Christianized, some remained pagan and there was no single state powerful enough to dominate the others. Occasionally, a strong ruler would arise who might temporarily be recognized as Bretwalda or “High King”. Such a one was Oswald of Northumbria (604-42)
During years of unrest, Oswald seems to have travelled in Ireland and the lowlands of Scotland where he was converted to Christianity. At the Battle of Heavenfield he defeated an army of Welsh and Mercians and made himself the most powerful ruler south of Scotland. He was instrumental in spreading the Christian religion and gave the island of Lindisfarne to the Irish monk Aidan as a base for evangelism. His generosity to the poor was legendary; St Aidan is said to have clasped him in admiration saying “May this hand never perish!” Oswald fell in battle against the pagan king of Mercia, Penda, who had his arms and head stricken off and mounted on a pole. Legend says his hand was recovered by his pet raven and where the bird dropped it, a healing well sprung up. His corpse was obtained by his brother Oswy and his relics are venerated in a number of churches in England and on the Continent. (There are supposed to be four heads of Oswald in circulation.) Many of these relics are associated with miracles and Oswald is called upon by those suffering from the plague. The image below is a German reliquary containing some fragment of the saint.
