Saint Oda facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Saint Oda |
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Chapel of Saint Oda, Sint-Oedenrode
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| Born | c. 680 Scotland |
| Died | c. 726 |
| Venerated in | Eastern Orthodox Church, Roman Catholic Church |
| Feast | 23 October |
| Attributes | Long blue gown with one bare shoulder; carries a staff or a book; always shown with a magpie on her hand and a crown under her feet |
Saint Oda of Scotland (born around 680, died around 726) was a woman from Scotland who chose to live a very simple, religious life alone in the Netherlands. She is remembered and celebrated on October 23rd each year.
Contents
Who Was Saint Oda?
Oda's Early Life and a Miracle
Oda was born blind. Her father sent her on a special religious journey, called a pilgrimage, to Liège. There, she visited the holy remains of Saint Lambert.
While Oda was praying at Saint Lambert's grave, something amazing happened: she could suddenly see! This miracle is written in old records from the 700s. After this, Oda promised to dedicate her life to God and went back to Scotland.
Leaving Home for a Quiet Life
According to stories written in the 1200s, Oda's father wanted her to get married. But because of her promise to God, Oda and her maid ran away. They traveled across the North Sea.
They went on another pilgrimage to Rome and a place called Monte Sant'Angelo sul Gargano. After that, Oda prayed in many villages in the Netherlands and Belgium.
Finding Peace in the Forest
Oda finally settled in a town called Venray. However, she was often bothered by magpies there. She wanted to find a truly quiet place. The magpies actually led her to an open spot in a forest.
The people from the nearby villages built a small hut for her there. To protect her simple home from bad weather and to hide it, Oda planted some bushes. The very next day, these bushes had already grown into a thick hedge!
Her Father's Search
Oda's father looked for her. He found out where she was because she used coins from her home country. But when he tried to get close to her hut, the magpies kept chasing him away.
Eventually, her father gave up and went back to Scotland without her. Oda stayed in the forest, living as a hermit, which means someone who lives alone for religious reasons.
How We See Saint Oda in Art
Symbols and Meanings
When you see pictures or statues of Saint Oda, she usually wears a long blue dress. One of her shoulders is often bare. She might be holding a staff (a long stick) or a book. These items remind us that she was cured of her blindness.
You will always see a magpie on her hand. Also, there is often a crown under her feet. The magpie reminds us of how the birds led her to her quiet forest home. The crown shows that she chose a spiritual life over the riches and power of her earthly family.
Remembering Saint Oda
A Town Named After Her
After Oda passed away, her small hut became a special place where people would visit. This "Saint Oda's place in the woods" eventually grew into the town of Sint-Oedenrode in the Netherlands. In Dutch, a small clearing in the woods is called a rode.
The flag of Sint-Oedenrode looks like the flag of Scotland. It has a white X shape on a blue background.
Holy Relics and Healing
Some small pieces of Saint Oda's skull and teeth are kept in the Saint Martin Church in Sint-Oedenrode. There are also many statues and paintings of her in a special chapel in the church's garden.
In the past, Pilgrims would visit Saint Oda's shrine. They believed she could help them with sore eyes and other head-related illnesses.
