(1579-1615) John was a Scottish noble, raised as a Calvinist, who converted to Catholicism at 17. He became a Jesuit priest and was sent to France, though he made repeated requests to go to Scotland, where the Scottish Reformation had made it illegal to endorse or participate in anything Catholic. He returned to Scotland as an underground missionary, disguised as either a soldier or a horse-trader named John Watson. After 11 months, he was betrayed by an imposter, imprisoned, tortured, convicted of treason, and hanged.
John was passionate about sharing the truth he had discovered with his homeland. Having encountered the living God in the Catholic Church, and “having had a spiritual awakening as the result of [the] steps,” do you strive “to carry this message to others, and to practice these principles in all [your] affairs” (Step 12)?
“If there be here any hidden Catholics, let them pray for me, but the prayers of heretics I will not have” (Saint John Ogilvie’s last words).
Reflection by Brad Farmer