SAINT FEAST DAY 29 FEBRUARY: ST OSWALD

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN FEBRUARY

Saints celebrated on the 29th of February

WELCOME!

SAINT OSWALD, ARCHBISHOP OF YORK

Saint Oswald was nephew of St Odo, archbishop of Canterbury, and to Oskitell, bishop first of Dorcester, afterwards of York. He was educated by St Odo, and made dean of Winchester; but passing into France, took the monastic habit at Fleury. Being recalled to serve the church, he succeeded St Dunstan in the see of Worcester about the year 959. 

He shone as a bright star in this dignity, and established a monastery of monks at Westberry, a village in his diocese. He was employed by duke Aylwin in superintending his foundation of the great monastery of Ramsey, in an island formed by marshes and the River Ouse in Huntingdonshire, in 972. 

HE WAS MADE ARCHBISHOP OF YORK

St Oswald was made archbishop of York in 974, and he dedicated the church of Ramsey under the names of the Blessed Virgin, St Benedict, and all holy virgins.

St Oswald was almost always occupied in visiting his diocese, preaching without intermission, and reforming abuses. He was a great encourager of learning and learned men. St Dunstan obliged him to retain the see of Worcester with that of York. Whatever intermission his function allowed him he spent at Saint Mary’s, a church and monastery of Benedictines, which he had built at Worcester, where he joined with the monks in their monastic exercises. 

HUMILITY AND CHARITY

This church from that time became the cathedral. The saint, to nourish in his heart the sentiments of humility and charity, had everywhere twelve poor persons at his table, whom he served, and also washed and kissed their feet. After having sat thirty-three years he fell sick at St Mary’s in Worcester, and having received the Extreme-unction and Viaticum, continued in prayer, repeating often, "Glory be to the Father," etc., with which words he expired amidst his monks, on February 29, 992. 

(Information from Fr Butler's Lives of the Saints)