Saints and Holy People

Find out about their lives and how they changed the world

Saint John Ogilvie (1579–1615)

Saint John Ogilvie (1579–1615)

Feast day: March 10




Saint John Ogilvie converted to the Catholic faith when he was 17. He joined the Jesuit order and became a missionary in Scotland, despite heavy persecution. John enjoyed a great deal of success in bringing people back to the faith. However, John’s Catholic identity was betrayed by a man posing as a Catholic. He was captured, arrested, and tortured in the hope that he would reveal the names and whereabouts of fellow Catholics, but he refused to divulge any information. John was convicted of high treason and sentenced to death.

Saint John Ogilvie is the only Scottish martyr recorded in the Church. 

(Image in public domain-70)