August 20th - St. Oswin
Traudel
Died at Gilling, Yorkshire, England, on August 20, 651; feast of his
translation
on March 11 is kept at Durham, Saint Albans, and Tynemouth. When his father,
King Osric of Deira (roughly the county of Yorkshire), was killed by the
pagan
Welsh King Cadwallon in 633, he was taken to Wessex for safety, baptized,
and
educated there by Saint Aidan (f.d. August 31). When his cousin Saint Oswald
(f.d. August 9) was killed in battle against King Penda of Mercia in 642,
Oswin
became king of Deira, which Oswald had united to Bernicia, and his cousin
Oswy
(Oswiu) became king of Bernicia.
Saint Bede (f.d. May 25) tells us that Oswin was "handsome in appearance and
of
great stature, pleasant in speech and courteous in manner. He was generous
to
high and low alike and soon won the affection of all by his kingly qualities
of
mind and body so that even men of very high birth came from nearly every
province to his service. . . . and among his other qualities of virtue and
moderation the greatest was humility."
Oswin had reigned successfully for about nine years, when Oswy declared war
on
him. Rather than precipitate a bloody battle when he realised that his army
was
vastly outnumbered, Oswin went into hiding with one trusted soldier at the
estate of his best friend, Earl Hunwald, at Gilling near Richmond, York.
Hunwald
betrayed him and he was murdered at Gilling, Yorkshire, by Ethelwin on
orders
from Oswy. Oswin, buried at Tynemouth, has been venerated as a martyr since
his
death, because he died, "if not for the faith of Christ, at least for the
justice of Christ," as a 12th-century preacher explained.
In expiation for his crime, Oswy built a monastery at Gilling, but Oswin's
relics remained at Tynemouth. Later the church was subject to the Viking
raids
and Oswin's tomb was forgotten until it was found in 1065. At that time the
relics were translated. (Attwater, Benedictines, Delaney, Encyclopaedia,
Farmer).
Troparion of St Oswin tone 1
Courtesy and humility shone from thee,/
O radiant Martyr Oswin./
Trained by Saint Aidan as a Christian ruler,/
thou didst illumine northern Britain./
Glory to Him Who has strengthened thee;
glory to Him Who has crowned thee; /
glory to Him Who through thee works healings for all.
Icon of St. Oswin http://htmadmin.phpwebhosting.com/images/a-357.jpg
Homesite for icons http://htmadmin.phpwebhosting.com/mounted.htm
These Lives are archived at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celt-saints
Saint Quote:
The Prayer of the sick person is his patience and his acceptance of his
sickness
for the love of Jesus Christ. Make sickness itself a prayer, for there is
none
more powerful, save martyrdom!
--Saint Francis de Sales
Bible Quote:
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith
the
Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher
than
your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)
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O most benevolent
and most merciful
Heart of Jesus,
imprint in our hearts
a perfect image
of your great mercy,
so that we may fulfil
the commandment
You gave us:
"Be merciful
as your Father
is merciful".
Mother of mercy,
look upon
so much misery,
so many poor people,
so many captives,
so many prisoners,
so many men and women
who suffer persecution
at the hands of their brothers and sisters,
so many defenseless people
so many afflicted souls, so many troubled hearts.
Mother of mercy, open the eyes
of your clemency and see our desolation.
Open the ears of your goodness
and hear our supplication.
Most loving and most powerful advocate,
show that You are truly the Mother of Mercy. Amen.