Osana
Osana was a Northumbrian princess whose local veneration as a saint emerged informally after her death. Centuries later, she was described by Giraldus Cambrensis as the sister of King Osred I, and depicted as inflicting a miraculous flagellation from her grave upon a priest's concubine. This story served as a moral tale intended to promote clerical celibacy.
- Feast Day
- 18 June
- Century
- 12th century
- Country Or Region
- England
Key Facts
- ›Osana was a Northumbrian princess.
- ›Her local following as a saint developed informally after her death.
- ›She was never officially canonised.
- ›Giraldus Cambrensis described her as the sister of King Osred I of Northumbria.
- ›Giraldus Cambrensis depicted her inflicting a miraculous flagellation from her grave.
- ›The Bollandists named June 18 as a feast day for Osana on the authority of Giraldus Cambrensis.
Discipline
About Osana
Osana of Northumbria
Osana was a Northumbrian princess whose local following as a saint developed informally after her death. She was never officially canonised by the Church. Centuries after her passing, she was described by the Norman-Welsh chronicler Giraldus Cambrensis (died 1223) as the sister of King Osred I of Northumbria, which, if accurate, would make her the daughter of King Aldfrith of Northumbria.
Hagiography and Legacy
Giraldus Cambrensis's account is the earliest known record of Osana. He depicted her as inflicting a miraculous flagellation from her grave in Howden, Yorkshire, upon a concubine of the priest of the collegiate church there. This story served as a moral tale intended to promote clerical celibacy, a concept that was not expected of Anglo-Saxon clergy in Osana's time but began to be enforced later.
On the authority of Giraldus Cambrensis, the Bollandists later assigned June 18 as a feast day for Osana. Her veneration remained informal and local, with no official canonization process undertaken. The primary location associated with her veneration is Howden, Yorkshire, where her tomb was situated.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Osana?
Osana was a Northumbrian princess whose local veneration as a saint began informally after her death. She was never officially canonised but was later described in historical accounts.
What is Osana chiefly remembered for?
Osana is chiefly remembered for a story recorded by Giraldus Cambrensis, where she is depicted as inflicting a miraculous flagellation from her grave. This tale was intended as a moral lesson to encourage clerical celibacy.
When was Osana's feast day?
On the authority of Giraldus Cambrensis, the Bollandists named June 18 as a feast day for Osana.
Was Osana officially canonised?
No, Osana was never officially canonised. Her local following as a saint developed informally after her death.
What is the historical context of Osana's story?
Osana lived in Northumbria, a region of Anglo-Saxon England. The story of her miraculous flagellation was recorded centuries later by Giraldus Cambrensis, a Norman-Welsh chronicler, during a period when clerical celibacy was being increasingly enforced.
Related Saints
William of York
William of York was an English priest and twice Archbishop of York during a period of significant ecclesiastical and political upheaval in the 12th century. He is remembered for his contested elections, deposition, and eventual restoration to his archiepiscopal see, as well as for miracles reported at his tomb and his subsequent canonization.
Anthelm of Belley
Anthelm of Belley was a prior of the Carthusian Grand Chartreuse and later bishop of Belley. He is remembered for his effective administration at the Grande Chartreuse, where he increased the community's fervor, improved buildings, and standardized the order's rules. As bishop, he was known for his fearless and uncompromising approach to reforming the clergy and regulating diocesan affairs.
Norbert of Xanten
Norbert of Xanten was a German Catholic bishop and the founder of the Premonstratensian order of canons regular. He is venerated as a saint and is chiefly remembered for his profound conversion and subsequent establishment of a religious order dedicated to an ascetic and contemplative life for active priests.