Saint Oswald of Northumbria

St. Oswald was an Anglo-Saxon king of Northumbria in the 7th century. He was born around 604 AD and reigned from 634 to 642 AD. Oswald was a devout Christian who worked to reintroduce Christianity to his kingdom after it had been suppressed. He invited the monk Aidan to establish a monastery on the island of Lindisfarne, which became an important center of evangelization. Oswald was killed in battle against the pagan king Penda of Mercia. He is venerated as a saint for his Christian faith and his efforts to spread the gospel. St. Oswald is the patron saint of England and invoked for protection against sudden death.