It’s the Feast of Dedication of Our Lady of the Snows, 3rd Class, with the color of White. In this episode: the meditation: “Humility and Magnanimity”, today’s news from the Church: “The Entire Catholic Faith: Nothing Less”, and today’s thought from the Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre.
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Sources Used Today:
- “Humility and Magnanimity” — From Trinity Sunday to the Assumption
- “The Entire Catholic Faith: Nothing Less” (FSSPX.news)
- The Spiritual Life — Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre (Angelus Press)
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Saint Oswald of Northumbria was a king who carried a sword in one hand and a cross in the other. He lived during the seventh century, when Christianity was slowly taking root in England, and his greatest victories were not the ones he won on the battlefield, but the ones that helped bring the faith to his people.
Oswald was born into the royal family of Northumbria, but his childhood was anything but peaceful. After his father was killed in battle, the young prince was forced into exile. He found refuge on the Scottish island of Iona, where the famous monastery founded by Columba became his home.
That exile changed his life.
Instead of growing up in a royal court, Oswald was formed by monks. There he learned the Catholic faith, was baptized, and developed the habits of prayer that would stay with him for the rest of his life.
Years later, Oswald returned to reclaim his kingdom. Before one decisive battle, tradition says he raised a large wooden cross and helped his soldiers hold it upright while it was planted into the ground. Then he knelt before it and prayed, asking God not simply for victory, but for justice. His army won the battle, and Oswald became king of Northumbria.
What he did next is what makes him a saint.
Rather than using his new authority simply to strengthen his kingdom, he set about strengthening the Church. Wanting his people to know Christ as he had come to know Him at Iona, Oswald invited missionaries to Northumbria. The first struggled, but a monk named Aidan of Lindisfarne accepted the challenge.
There’s a wonderful detail that tells you everything about Oswald’s character.
Aidan spoke little English when he first arrived.
So who translated his sermons?
The king himself.
Imagine that. After winning battles and ruling a kingdom, Oswald spent his time standing beside a missionary, translating the Gospel for his own people. It’s hard to think of many kings who would have considered that one of their royal duties.
Oswald was also known for his generosity. One Easter, while dining with Saint Aidan, he learned that a crowd of poor people had gathered outside the palace. He immediately ordered the meal prepared for the royal table to be given away and even had the silver serving dishes broken into pieces so they could be distributed among the poor.
Oswald’s reign lasted only eight years. In 642, he was killed in battle while defending his kingdom. Almost immediately, stories of miracles began to spread, and his reputation for holiness reached far beyond England. His relics were honored in several great churches, and for centuries he was one of the most beloved royal saints in Europe.
Saint Oswald reminds us that leadership is measured not by power, but by service. The greatest king is the one who leads his people closer to Christ.
Saint Oswald of Northumbria, holy king and servant of the Gospel, pray for us.
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