Litany of Saints
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John Ogilvie

Scottish Jesuit saint and martyr

SaintResearchedUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and IrelandSociety of JesusPost-1588

Feast: 10 March (not on the universal Roman calendar; kept in the Roman Martyrology or local calendars)

Born
1579
verified
Died
1615
verified
Beatified
not on record
Canonised
17 October 1976
by Paul VI

Who they were

John Ogilvie, a Scot, spent many years abroad in exile studying theology and became a Jesuit priest. Assigned to Rouen, for two years he begged the Superior General to let him return to his countrymen.

In autumn 1613 he landed secretly at Leith disguised as 'Captain Watson' and devoted himself to the pastoral care of his people, until he was imprisoned under King James VI, condemned to death and martyred in 1615.

The miracles

The Dicastery's biography does not describe the miracles approved in the cause.

Why that counted as sanctity

A Jesuit who returned in secret to serve Scotland's Catholics and died a martyr.

Sources

Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.

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