Oswald was Danish by birth, but he was raised in England and
France. He was the nephew of the archbishop of Canterbury. He received a good
education in England and France and then became a Benedictine monk.
He was appointed bishop of Worcester, then in 972, the
archbishop of York. He founded several monasteries and introduced reforms in
others. Along with Dunstan and Æthelwold, Oswald was known for his desire
to purify the Church, especially clergy, and instill discipline and reform.
Education was important to him, and he supported scholarship
at all his abbeys, inviting leading scholars to come share their knowledge.
Although clearly an academic, Oswald is was also known for his
love of the poor. At the start of Lent in 992 he resumed his annual Lenten
practice of washing the feet of 12 poor men each day. On Leap Year Day that
year, he died after kissing the feet of the 12th man.
His feast day is Feb. 28 (Feb. 29 on leap years, like
today).
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