k in 974,
and he dedicated the church of Ramsey under the names of the Blessed
Virgin, St. Benedict, and all holy virgins. Nothing of this rich mitred
abbey remains standing except an old gate-house, and a neglected statue
of the founder, Aylwin, with keys and a ragged staff in his hand to
denote his office; for he was cousin to the glorious king Edgar, the
valiant general of his armies, and the chief judge and magistrate of the
kingdom, with the title of alderman of England, and half king, as the
historian of Ramsey usually styles him.[1] {486} St. Oswald was almost
always occupied in visiting his diocese, preaching without intermission
and reforming abuses. He was a great encourager of learning and learned
men. St. Dunstan obliged him to retain the see of Worcester with that of
York. Whatever intermission his function allowed him he spent it at St.
Mary's, a church and monastery of Benedictins, which he had built at
Worcester, where he joined with the monks in their monastic exercises.
This church from that time became the cathedral. The saint, to nourish
in his heart the sentiments of humility and charity, had everywhere
twelve poor persons at his table, whom he served, and also washed and
kissed their feet. After having sat thirty-three years he fell sick at
St. Mary's in Worcester, and having received the extreme unction and
viaticum, continued in prayer, repeating often, "Glory be to the
Father," &c., with which words he expired amidst his monks, on the 29th
of February, 992. His body was taken up ten years after and enshrined,
by Adulph his successor, and was illustrated by miracles. It was
afterwards translated to York, on the 15th of October, which day was
appointed his principal festival.

* * * * *

St. Oswald made quick progress in the path of perfect virtue, because he
studied with the utmost earnestness to deny himself and his own will,
listening attentively to that fundamental maxim of the Eternal Truth,
which St. Bennet, of whose holy order he became a bright light, repeats
with great energy. This holy founder declares in the close of his rule,
that, He who desires to give himself up to God, must trample all earthly
things under his feet, renounce every thing that is not God, and die to
all earthly affections, so as to attain to a perfect disengagement and
nakedness of heart, that God may fill and entirely possess it, in order
to establish therein the kingdom of his grace