St. Oswald was born into a military family in 10th-century England. He was the nephew of the archbishop of Canterbury. The archbishop raised him and fostered his early education.
He traveled to France to study and became a Benedictine monk.
Oswald was appointed bishop of Worcester in 962 and began working hard to promote monastic reform.
He continued his monastic reformation when he was appointed archbishop of York in 972.
Oswald also founded numerous monasteries, which improved the scholarship and morals of his clergy. He invited great thinkers in such fields as mathematics and astronomy to share the monastery's learning.
He was widely known for his sanctity, especially his love for the poor.
At the start of Lent in 992, Oswald resumed his usual practice of washing the feet of 12 poor men each day. On Leap Year Day, February 29, he died after kissing the feet of the twelfth man.
He is remembered as one of three saints who revived English monasticism.
