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John Duns Scotus
priest, friar, philosopher, theologian, college teacher
Feast: 8 November (not on the universal Roman calendar; kept in the Roman Martyrology or local calendars)
Who they were
John Duns was born in Scotland around 1265 and became a Friar Minor. A master famous for subtlety of mind and admirable piety, he taught philosophy and theology at Canterbury, Oxford, Paris and Cologne.
He died at Cologne on 8 November 1308 and was called 'Blessed' almost at once. His veneration in the dioceses of Cologne, Edinburgh and Nola and in the Franciscan Order was solemnly recognised by the Church on 6 July 1991.
The miracles
His long-standing veneration was confirmed without the process of a miracle.
Why that counted as sanctity
A theologian whose sharp mind and holy life made him a master of thought and of living.
Connected on this site
- Thomas Aquinas Saint“He is considered among the most important philosopher-theologians in Western Christendom during the last part of the medieval period, together with Thomas Aquinas, Bonaventure and William of Ockham.” — Wikipedia
- Dicastery for the Causes of Saints - biography: Duns Scoto
- Wikidata Q190089 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — Duns Scotus (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.