Saint Oda

Saint Oda of Scotland (c. 680 – c. 726) was a Scottish princess who became a holy woman in the Netherlands. Oda was born blind and her father sent her on pilgrimage to Liège to visit the relics of Saint Lambert. While praying at Saint Lambert's grave she was miraculously cured from her blindness. The miraculous cure of Oda is recorded in Saint Lambert's 8th century vitae. Vowing to dedicate her life to God, she returned to Scotland. According to ... more

Saint Oda of Scotland (c. 680 – c. 726) was a Scottish princess who became a holy woman in the Netherlands. Oda was born blind and her father sent her on pilgrimage to Liège to visit the relics of Saint Lambert. While praying at Saint Lambert's grave she was miraculously cured from her blindness. The miraculous cure of Oda is recorded in Saint Lambert's 8th century vitae. Vowing to dedicate her life to God, she returned to Scotland. According to records written in the 13th century, her father wanted her to marry in Scotland. Because of her vow she fled across the North Sea. After a pilgrimage to Rome and Monte Sant'Angelo sul Gargano, she moved to live in an open space in the woods in a place now known as Sint Oedenrode in the Netherlands (a small manmade open space in the woods is called a 'rode' in Dutch - the village is named after the Scottish princess). 16th century records describe how Oda prayed in various villages in the Netherlands and Belgium only to be disturbed by magpies.... less