St Oswald of Northumbria

Here's a portrait of St Oswald of Northumbria (r634-42), which I took in 2004 during a visit to the Royal English College of St Alban, Valladolid. In true Spanish style, he looks more like Philip II than a seventh century Northumbrian!

St Oswald was killed in battle against his great rival, King Penda of Mercia - and because Penda was a pagan, Oswald was soon honoured as a martyr. His cult spread all over Europe - even to the little Bavarian village of Marktl-am-Inn. A certain Josef Alois Ratzinger was baptised at the 'Oswaldskirche' there on Holy Saturday 1927.

Ora pro nobis!