Saint John Ogilvie
Scottish Jesuit priest hanged at Glasgow in 1615
- Rank
- Saint
- Kind
- Martyr, Priest
- Life
- 1579 – 1615
- Era
- 17th century
- Feast
- 10 March
- Countries
- United Kingdom
Life story
John was born around 1580 at Drumnakeith in Banffshire, Scotland. He was raised a Calvinist and sent to continental Europe for schooling at about the age of twelve. At about seventeen he was received into the Catholic Church by Cornelius a Lapide. He joined the Society of Jesus in 1599 and was ordained a priest in Paris (the Catholic Encyclopedia gives 1613, later biographies 1610).
In November 1613 he returned to Scotland disguised as a horse trader. He spent about nine months reconciling people to the Church in Edinburgh and Glasgow before he was betrayed and arrested in Glasgow in October 1614 and tried for refusing to accept the king's authority over the Church. He was hanged at Glasgow Cross on 10 March 1615.
Pope Pius XI beatified him on 22 December 1929 and Pope Paul VI canonised him on 17 October 1976, making him the only post-Reformation Scottish saint. His feast is 10 March.
Works and witness
- Became a Catholic as a teenager
- Joined the Jesuits in 1599
- Ordained a priest in Paris
- Returned to Scotland in November 1613 disguised as a horse trader
- Hanged at Glasgow on 10 March 1615
Saints from the same country
References
- Catholic Encyclopedia, "Ven. John Ogilvie" (newadvent.org/cathen/11223b.htm)
Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.