Resources
St John Ogilvie SJ (+1615)

St John Ogilvie was a Jesuit priest, martyred for his faith at Glasgow on 10th March 1615. He is the only canonized martyr of the Scottish Reformation.

The year 2015 is the 400th anniversary of the martyrdom of St John Ogilvie.

The Life of St John Ogilvie
1579
John Ogilvie is born on 4th July at Drum-na-Keith, on the north east coast of Scotland . His father, Sir Walter Ogilvie, conformed to the state religion of Calvinism (established by act of parliament in 1560) and later known as Presbyterianism. His mother, Agnes Elphinstone, was a Catholic with two brothers in the Society of Jesus.
1582
John's mother dies when he is three. Walter Ogilvie is remarried, to Mary Douglas.
1592
Travels to Helmstedt (an illustrious Lutheran school founded in 1570) to begin his formal education, age 13.
1596
Enrols at the Scots College (which had moved from Douai to Louvain), undergoes instruction from Cornelius a Lapide SJ and shortly becomes a Roman Catholic. Then continued his studies at the Jesuit university at Olmütz (Olomouc, founded 1570) in Bohemia because of the poverty of the Scots College.
1598
Continues studies with the Benedictines at the Schottenkloster (Irish Monastery) Sankt Jakob, Ratisbon (Regensburg).
1599
Returns to Olmütz. Enters the novitiate of the Society of Jesus on 5 th November at Brno in Moravia.
1601
Takes his first vows as a Jesuit on 26 th December at Graz in Austria and then teaches grammar in the Jesuit school (founded 1573) while studying philosophy at the Jesuit university (founded 1585/6).
1606
Teaches grammar and humanities at Vienna (Jesuit college and university founded 1551).
1607
Returns to study at Olmütz to study theology. Appointed Prefect of the Sodality of Our Lady.
1610
Ordained priest at Paris and appointed confessor to the students of the Jesuit college at Rouen (founded 1593).
1613
Returns to Scotland, landing at Leith, under the alias John Watson, horse dealer. He is accompanied by James Moffat SJ and the Capuchin Franciscan, John Campbell.
1614
Ogilvie travels to London and on to France on a secret mission, seemingly under the protection of the King. He returns to Scotland in June. On 14th October, he is betrayed by Adam Boyd and arrested in Glasgow. Imprisoned and tortured for five months in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
+1615
John Ogilvie is executed at the Mercat Cross, Glasgow, on 10th March and is buried outside the city walls.
1616
Ogilvie's Relatio (his own account of his arrest, imprisonment and torture, written in prison) is printed in various cities in Europe and circulated secretly in England and Scotland.
1629
The process to have John Ogilvie declared 'Blessed' is begun but not completed for another 400 years.
1929
22nd December - Declared 'Blessed' by Pope Pius XI.
1976
17th October - Declared a 'Saint' by Pope Paul VI.
2015
400th Anniversary of the martyrdom of St John Ogilvie SJ.
   
Feast Day

The feast day of St John Ogilvie SJ is celebrated on 10th March (the day of his martyrdom in 1615) in the Jesuit calendar of the British Province and in the dioceses of Scotland, and on 14th October (the date of his arrest in 1614 and the beginning of his martyrdom) in the rest of the universal Church.

 

Prayer Cards
St John Ogilvie Prayer Card 1 - Peter Howson (1)
Image and prayer
Copies of this card are available from the Jesuit Institute
St John Ogilvie Prayer Card 2 - Peter Howson (2)
Image and prayer
Copies of this card are available from the Jesuit Institute
St John Ogilvie Prayer Card 3 - Giovanni D'Aloisio
Image and prayer
Copies of this card are available from the Jesuit Institute
St John Ogilvie Prayer Card 4 - Gerard Burns
Image and prayer
Copies of this card are available from the Jesuit Institute
St John Ogilvie Prayer Card 5 - The Douai Portrait
Image and prayer
Copies of this card are available from the Jesuit Institute
   
Images
Click on image to open in high resolution

St John Ogilvie SJ
The Douai Portrait
This portrait hung at the Scots College at Douai probably until and closure of the French colleges in 1762 and the suppression of the Society of Jesus. Today it is in the parish church of Saint Gilles at Pecquencourt, some 14km East of Douai.
Image © 2015 CTS London / Jesuit Institute London

P Io Ogilbae Soc Iesu.
Sem Scot Duac Alumn.
Pass In Scotio Mart 1615
Father John Ogilvie of the Society of Jesus
and Alumnus of the Scots Seminary at Douai.
Suffered in Scotland and Martyred 1615
.

 

St John Ogilvie
Portrait (20thC?) at the Royal Scots College, Salamanca
Image © 2015 Royal Scots College, Salamanca. Used with permission.
The Martyrdom of St John Ogilvie
Stained glass window (1964) by Giovanni D'Aloisio Mayo (b.1930)
at the Pontifical Scots College, Rome.
The window was the gift of St Aloysius College, Glasgow, for the new buildings of the Scots College, opened by Pope Paul VI in 1964.
Image © 2014 Pontifical Scots College, Rome. Used with permission.
Ogilvie
Painting by Gerard M Burns
Commissioned for the opening of the new Junior School building at St Aloysius College, Glasgow (1998).
Image © 1998 Gerard M Burns. Used with permission.
St John Ogilvie SJ
Pencil sketch (c.1850) by Charles Weld (1813-69)
in the Stonyhurst Collections, from an original portrait at Rome.
Image © 2015 Stonyhurst Collections. Used with permission.
St John Ogilvie
Paintings and sketches (2008-11) by Peter Howson (b.1958)
Link to Peter Howson's Ogilvie webpage
John Ogilvie Lands at Leith in Scotland (1613)
Mosaic from the National Shrine of St John Ogilvie (1933) in the Jesuit Church of St Aloysius, Glasgow.
Image © 2015 Jesuit Institute London
The Watching (1615)
Mosaic from the National Shrine of St John Ogilvie (1933) in the Jesuit Church of St Aloysius, Glasgow.
'The Watching' was the torture of sleep deprivation practised on John Ogilvie for nine consecutive nights in 1615. Sharp pins and knives were used to keep him constantly awake as shown in this mosaic.
Image © 2015 Jesuit Institute London
The Execution of John Ogilvie (1615)
Mosaic from the National Shrine of St John Ogilvie (1933) in the Jesuit Church of St Aloysius, Glasgow.
Image © 2015 Jesuit Institute London
Statue of St John Ogilvie
from the National Shrine (1933) in the Jesuit Church of St Aloysius, Glasgow.
Image © 2015 Jesuit Institute London
The Relatio of St John Ogilvie
The title page of an edition of St John Ogilvie's own account of this arrest and imprisonment continued after his execution by his fellow prisoners.
Printed at Mainz, 1616.
Image © 2015 Archive of the British Province of the Society of Jesus

Glasgow 1615
from An Authentic Account of the Imprisonment and Martyrdom of Father John Ogilvie (1877)
Glasgow city centre at the time of Ogilvie's martyrdom. From left: the city Alms House, St Nicholas' hospotal and chapel, the Archbishop's Palance and Cameron Tower, and St Mungo's Cathedral.
Image © 2015 Jesuit Institute London
The Tolbooth, Glasgow
from An Authentic Account of the Imprisonment and Martyrdom of Father John Ogilvie (1877)
The new Tolbooth (or town hall) was built in 1624-5, a decade after Ogilvie's death, and incorporated the old prison where Ogilvie was held and tortured. The Tolbooth Tower (right) is the only part of the building still standing today.
Image © 2015 Jesuit Institute London
Blackfriars, Glasgow, 1615
from An Authentic Account of the Imprisonment and Martyrdom of Father John Ogilvie (1877)
The church and buildings of Blackfriars in Glasgow. The traditional site of Ogilvie's execution was in front of the main gate.
Image © 2015 Jesuit Institute London

The Arms of St John Ogilvie SJ
This coat of arms was developed for the occasion of the canonization of St John Ogilvie in 1976 and is based on the ancient heraldic devices of his ancestors, the Ogilvy and Sinclair families.

The arms are techically described as follows:

Quarterly, first, Argent, a lion rampant Gules (for Ogilvy of Inchmartine); second and third, Argent, a cross engrailed Sable (for Sinclair); fourth, Argent, a lion passant guardant Gules crossed with an imperial crown Or (for Ogilvy).

Argent = Silver
Gules = Red
Sable = Black
Or = Gold

The motto used with the Ogilvie arms is Usque ad Finem (Latin = "to the very end"). Scottish heraldry places the motto above the arms.

 

   
Images of the Life of John Ogilvie
The Life of St John Ogilvie SJ
Nine watercolour illustrations for children by Kathy Jurek (2015). These paintings were commissioned to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the martyrdom of St John Ogilvie in 2015.
Images © 2015 Jesuit Institute London
Go to illustrations
The Life of St John Ogilvie SJ
Photographs of a relief of scenes from the life of JohnOgilvie by Domenico Mastrojanni (1876-1962). Created for the beatification in 1929.
Images © 2015 Jesuit Institute London
Go to illustrations
   
Drama
A Lesson in Harmony
A short dramatic encounter between John Ogilvie and John Knox at the gates of heaven.
Written for Christian Unity Week at St Aloysius College, Glasgow, 1996.
download text (PDF)
Talking With My Father
by Frank McHugh
John Ogilvie speaks with the gaoler and his young son on the eve of his execution. A short drama for schools and parishes. 9 parts + crowd. Duration: 20m approx.
download text (PDF)
© 2015 Frank McHugh
   
Film
The Story of St John Ogilvie
by Glasgow Street Films (2015)

Part 1 The Story of John Ogilvie [5m 45s]
Part 2 The Miracle of John Fagan [5m 25s]

   
Poetry
The Martyrdom of St John Ogilvie
by Martin Friel (2001)

Archbishop Spottiswoode
composed himself to write to the king.
It was late in the day, early October.
He called for more light as he began,
aware of his breathing: 'It has plesit God
to cast in my handis a Jesuit that calls himself Ogilvy. 
In his bulget we hais found his vestmentis
and other furniture for the masse…' . . .

click for full text

Brave Faith
by Anne Murray (2015)

Once, at the consecration
the host rose from his hands
like a Eucharistic moon
that shed light
so much brighter
than the candlelit room
where they met
necessarily in secret
those dark days.

click for full text
© 2015 Anne B Murray. Used with permission.

   
Music


click to download music score

On the Battlefields of Scotland

Words: Mother W Long RSCJ
Music: Thomas Lakeland SJ

On the battlefields of Scotland
in the hour of victory,
there was heard the cry of heroes:
"Ogilvie, an Ogilvie!"
Gallant son of gallant fathers,
it was thine as theirs to fight,
but with gates of hell contending,
thou didst die for truth and right.

Blessed martyr, thy example
will our strength in weakness be.
Hear our cry in times of peril:
"Ogilvie, an Ogilvie!"

By the scaffold all undaunted,
strong in grace we see thee still,
looking up, serene and smiling,
with a firm, unconquered will.
It is thy bright hour of triumph,
like our Lord on Calvary’s cross.
Victory is thine in dying,
endless gain in seeming loss.

Blessed martyr, hear thy children,
be our guide and show the way.
Make us strong and keep us steadfast
in the warfare of today.
Looking down from heights of glory,
see in us thy kith and kin.
Teach us thy strong trust in Jesus
that we too may victory win.

 


click to download music score
Faithful Knight

Words: James Quinn SJ
Music: William Colliston SJ
Arrangement: Robert Rathbone

Let Scotland's valleys, hills and plains
acclaim their son whose praise we sing;
who died a martyr true as steel,
a faithful knight of Christ his King.
Strathisla's glory, bessed of God,
you travelled far the pilgrim way
to find in Scotland's ancient faith
the light of everlasting day.

You found the city set on high,
the rock of faith, the lamp of truth;
you vowed your life to Christ till death
with all the burning zeal of youth.
At last to Scotland you returned,
a priest defying ruthless laws.
In chains you preached the Church's faith
and died upholding Peter's cause.

You loved God's Mother; Mary's name
made holier still your dying breath.
You used her beads to win God's grace,
your parting gift in face of death.
The seed, though buried, yet will rise;
to bear its fruit, the grain has died:
May Scotland reap God's hundredfold,
the grace of Jesus crucified.

Like great Loyola you exchanged
your sword for Jesus' chivalry;
teach us to wield the Word of God,
the Spirit's sword, for unity.
In heaven's glory pray that soon
our country may at last be one:
to preach one gospel, break one Bread,
and be one Body in God's Son.

 

Ave verum corpus (2014)
by James MacMillan (b.1959)
for treble voices and organ (duration 4-minutes).
Commissioned for the Mass to mark the 400th Anniversary of the martyrdom of St John Ogilvie, and sung by the choirs of the Jesuit junior schools in the UK.
Boosey & Hawkes music publisher website
   
Prayers
This prayer was used at the celebrations of Ogilvie's canonization in 1976 St John Ogilvie died upholding the fulness of Catholic truth, the freedom of the Church, and the spiritual authority of the Pope. Let us pray that his martyr's death may bring a renewal of Chirstian lfe in our country and throughout the world.

Let us pray for the Church that it may be always faithful to God's word. Lord, hear us.

Let us pray for the Pope, that he may be a good shepherd of Christ's flock. Lord, hear us.

Let us pay for our country, that it may find its true unity in Christ. Lord, hear us.

Let us pray for all men and women of good will, that their hearts may be open to the knowledge and love of God. Lord, hear us.

God our Father,
you gave your servant, John,
faith to hear your call,
and strength to follow your Son.
May we, who honour him as a martyr,
be renewed in faith
and strengthened in our Christian vocation.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

 

by Adrian Porter SJ Lord,
you called John Ogilvie
to follow Christ
under the banner of the cross;
to proclaim the gospel
and celebrate the Mass;
and to be a shepherd to your people
in time of strife.
Inspired by his example
of faith and courage,
may we witness to Jesus Christ
by the manner of our lives,
marked by faith, hope and love.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

 

Resources for Schools
Resources for the 400th anniversary of the martyrdom of St John Ogilvie from the Scottish Catholic Education Service (SCES).
Ogilvie 400 Resources from SCES
   
Books, Articles and Texts
The Relatio of St John Ogilvie SJ
An abridged version of John Ogilvie's own record of his arrest, imprisonment and torture (1614-15) translated into English. With illustrations.
Available from the Jesuit Institute
A Wound in my Soul
The account of the young nobleman, John Eckersdorff, who was present at the execution of John Ogilve. Eckersdorff was hit in the chest by the rosary flung from the scaffold by Ogilvie - an incident which changed his life.
Eckersdorff's account (PDF)
The Quiet Drum - The Story of St John Ogilvie SJ
An illustrated storybook with activities for children (ages 7 - 12). Illustrations by Kathy Jurek. Text by Frank McHugh and pupils of St Aloysius College Junior School, Glasgow.
The Quiet Drum (pdf)
Printed copies of The Quiet Drum are available from the Jesuit Institute
Illustrations from the book
St John Ogilvie
The Story of Scotland's Only Post-Reformation Martyr

by Ron Smith (2015)
A5 booklet 24pp b&w photographs £3.00
available from the Diocese of Aberdeen
John Ogilvie - A Jesuit in Disguise (1579-1615)
by Eleanor McDowell
Catholic Truth Society
A6 booklet 64pp £2.50
order booklet from CTS

Publication due 2015

A Rosary from the Gallows - Saint John Ogilvie (1579-1615)
by Eleanor McDowell
Catholic Truth Society
Publication due 2015
John Ogilvie
A reflection by James Quinn SJ
download text (PDF)
   
Mass Texts
Mass Texts
Prayers and readings for the feast of St John Ogilvie from the Jesuit Missal and Lectionary.
download texts (PDF)
   
The National Shrine of St John Ogilvie
The national shrine of St John Ogilvie is in the Jesuit church of St Aloysius, in Glasgow city centre. It was constructed in 1933, four years after the beatification of John Ogilvie.
St Aloysius Church website
   

Can't see what you are looking for?
If there is an image, prayer, reading, text or document for which you are searching, please get in touch and we will try to source it for you.