Deepertruth: Stand In The Gap With Us And saint john ogilvie

Stand In The Gap With Us And saint john ogilvie 3/11/2024

1580 – 10 March 1615

was a Scottish Jesuit martyr. For his work as a priest in service to a persecuted Catholic community in 17th century Scotland,was hanged for his faith, he became the only post-Reformation Scottish saint.

John Ogilvie (1579-1615) performed ministry in his native Scotland for only 11 months after he returned to his homeland following 22 years abroad. He is the only canonized Scottish martyr from the time of the Reformation, and was only 36 when he gave his life for Christ.

John Ogilvie’s noble Scottish family was partly Catholic and partly Presbyterian. His father raised him as a Calvinist, sending him to the continent to be educated. There, John became interested in the popular debates going on between Catholic and Calvinist scholars. Confused by the arguments of Catholic scholars whom he sought out, he turned to Scripture. Two texts particularly struck him: “God wills all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth,” and “Come to me all you who are weary and find life burdensome, and I will refresh you.”

At the age of twelve he was sent to the European continent to be educated.