Blessed John Duns Scotus
Blessed John Duns Scotus (born c. 1265 AD in Duns, Berwickshire, Scotland; died November 8, 1308 AD in Cologne, Germany) was a Scottish Catholic Franciscan friar, philosopher, and theologian known as "the Subtle Doctor" (Doctor Subtilis), one of the greatest intellects of the medieval Scholastic tradition. He developed the philosophical system of Scotism, defended the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, and contributed foundational insights in metaphysics, philosophy of religion, and epistemology. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II on March 20, 1993. His feast day is November 8.
Stored in Cargo: Blessed John Duns Scotus
| Blessed John Duns Scotus | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | November 08 |
| Profession | Scottish Catholic Franciscan friar philosopher and theologian; born Duns Berwickshire Scotland c. 1265; Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans; OFM); "Doctor Subtilis" (Subtle Doctor); lectured Oxford Paris Cologne; defended Immaculate Conception; developed Scotism; ordained priest 1291; died Cologne Germany November 8 1308; beatified Pope John Paul II March 20 1993; feast November 8 |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans; OFM); medieval Scholastic tradition; Scotism; Duns; Scotland; Oxford; Paris; Cologne; Immaculate Conception theology |
| Patronage | Scotland; the Franciscan Order; philosophers; theologians; students of philosophy; defenders of the Immaculate Conception; Cologne; Oxford; Paris; those who seek God through intellect; Gerard Manley Hopkins devotees |
| Attributes | Franciscan gray-brown habit; quill pen (philosopher-theologian); open book (Sentences commentary); Immaculate Conception imagery (Mary without original sin); Doctor Subtilis title; November 8 feast; Cologne Cathedral setting; Scotland (thistle); Franciscan tau cross |
| Birthplace | Duns, Berwickshire, Scotland |
| Death Place | Cologne, Germany |
| Cause of Death | Natural death; died November 8, 1308, in Cologne, Germany; Blessed John Duns Scotus OFM (Scottish: Beannuichte Iain Duns Scotus; Latin: Doctor Subtilis) was a Scottish Catholic Franciscan philosopher-theologian; born Duns Berwickshire Scotland c. 1265; entered Franciscan Order (OFM); studied Oxford and Paris; ordained priest 1291 (Northampton); lectured Oxford Paris and Cologne; defended Immaculate Conception of Virgin Mary; developed Scotist philosophy; died Cologne Germany November 8 1308; beatified Pope John Paul II March 20 1993; feast November 8 |
| Primary Shrine | Church of the Immaculate Conception (formerly the Franciscan church), Cologne, Germany; beatified Pope John Paul II March 20 1993; feast November 8 |
| Liturgical Class | Not in universal Roman calendar; November 8 feast locally in Scotland and in the Franciscan Order |
| Historic Class | Not in 1962 calendar |
Biography
John Duns Scotus was born c. 1265 in Duns, Berwickshire, Scotland. He entered the Franciscan Order and studied at Oxford and Paris, becoming one of the greatest philosophical and theological intellects of the medieval Church.
He lectured on the Sentences of Peter Lombard at Oxford (the Ordinatio), Paris (the Lectura), and Cologne. He was ordained a priest in 1291. Known as "the Subtle Doctor" for the precision and originality of his thought, he developed the philosophical system of Scotism, which differed from Thomism in emphasizing the primacy of the will, the formal distinction, and the univocity of being.
He was expelled from Paris in 1303 for siding with Pope Boniface VIII against King Philip IV of France but returned to lecture again. He famously defended the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary at Paris, using the argument "potuit, decuit, ergo fecit" (God could do it, it was fitting, therefore He did it) — a position later defined as Catholic dogma by Pope Pius IX in 1854.
He was sent to Cologne in 1307 to lecture at the Franciscan studium and died there on November 8, 1308, at approximately forty-three years of age. His tomb in Cologne bears the inscription: "Scotland bore me, England received me, France taught me, Cologne holds me."
He was beatified by Pope John Paul II on March 20, 1993. His feast day is November 8.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Duns, Berwickshire, Scotland
Death location: Cologne, Germany
Notable location:
Notable location:
Notable location:
Notable location:
Notable location:
Dynamic content
Parishes
No parishes dedicated to John Duns Scotus have been added to the database yet.
Media
| Media | Length | AuthorCreator |
|---|---|---|
| November 6 Blessed John Duns Scotus | Under 5 minutes | Breski1 |
| November 8 Blessed John Duns Scotus | Under 5 minutes | Breski1 |
| Blessed John Duns Scotus | 5–15 minutes | Daily Lives of Franciscan Saints |
| Nov 8 - Bl. John Duns Scotus - Franciscan Saint of the Day | 5–15 minutes | Franciscan Media |
| Blessed John Duns Scotus | 5–15 minutes | Radio Immaculata |
Shrines
Dynamic shrines
No results
No shrines where this saint is the primary saint.
Feast day
November 8
Prayers
Authored
There are prayers authored by this saint in prayers list yet.
Intercessory
There are no prayers asking for this saint's intercession in prayers list yet.