Oswald of Northumbria

(c 604 – August 5, 642) was King of Northumbria from 634 until his death, and is now venerated as a Christian saint.

He was the son of Æthelfrith of Bernicia and came to rule after spending a period in exile; after defeating the British ruler Cadwallon ap Cadfan, Oswald brought the two Northumbrian kingdoms of Bernicia and Deira once again under a single ruler, and promoted the spread of Christianity in Northumbria.

He was given a strongly positive assessment by the historian Bede, writing a little less than a century after Oswald's death, who regarded Oswald as a saintly king; it is also Bede who is the main source for present-day historical knowledge of Oswald. After eight years of rule, in which he was the most powerful ruler in Britain, Oswald was killed in the Battle of Maserfield.


Propers for Oswald of Northumbria - King and Martyr

The Collect.

Lord God our King, who by the hand of thy servant Oswald didst lift up the standard of the cross in the land of Northumbria, that thy Gospel might be preached in that land: Plant, we beseech thee, the standard of the cross in our hearts, and let thy grace shine forth in our lives, that thereby many may be drawn to the knowledge and love of thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, now and ever. Amen.


The Epistle - 2 Esdras 2:42-48.


The Gospel - St. Matthew 10:16-22.


Reference and Resources:

http://saints.sqpn.com/sainto25.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oswald_of_Northumbria
http://www.commonprayer.org/calend/propers/com_mart.cfm
http://elvis.rowan.edu/~kilroy/JEK/08/05.html
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