March 11, Thrid Sunday of Lent
ST. JOHN OGILVIE (Scotland, 1579-1615), Jesuit, Martyr
He was raised as a Calvinist and educated in Europe where, after reading Scriptures, he converted
to Catholicism. He studied with the Benedictines in Regensburg, joined the Jesuits, and was ordained
in France in 1610. At a time when anti-Catholic persecution had driven Scottish Catholics underground,
he tried twice to go home in order to minister to the underground Catholics. He had to return to France
the first time but in 1613, he went back. His mission was to last less than a year because he was
betrayed, captured and tortured in unspeakable ways to renounce his faith. He refused steadfastly,
saying he would obey his king in all temporal matters but "In the things of spiritual jurisdiction which
a king unjustly seizes, I cannot and must not obey". He was condemned to death, dragged through the
streets of Glasgow, hanged and then disembowelled. He was beatified in 1939 and canonized in 1976.
He was the first Scottish saint since 1250.
Readings for today's Mass: usccb.org/bible/readings/031112.cfm
AT THE VATICAN TODAY
Sunday Angelus - The holy Father reflected on the Gospel episode when Jesus chased out the merchants and money-changers
from the Temple in Jerusalem shortly before his passion and death - a gesture considered prophetic by his disciples who
recalled the psalm about being zealous in behalf of the Father and his house, although Jesus was not a Zealot like
the sect of that name who were willing to commit violence in defense of God's law. After the prayers, he asked
the faithful to pray for the people of Madagascar who have been suffering from calamitous floods in recent days.
I apologize for being away all day Sunday due to some unavoidable commitments.