“Your word was my delight and the joy of my heart”
Jeremiah 15:16
Duns Scotus Bible Centre
Blessed John Duns Scotus
2008 marks the 700th anniversary of his death
Born in Duns, Scotland about the year 1265-66, John entered the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans) possibly at the age of 15. Ordained in 1291, he went on to be a renown teacher of theology who taught the supremacy of God’s love in the universities of Oxford, Cambridge, Paris and Cologne.
In his search for truth, John studied and meditated on the Sacred Scriptures with an intense love; the result of which was his belief in the absolute primacy of Christ and consequently the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Mary.
In his teachings, he argued against the heretical views regarding the Bible; insisting on its inspired nature, its canonicity, and the Church’s magisterial role with regard to the Bible.
John Duns Scotus was persecuted for his beliefs, and he was transferred to various universities either for his own safety or possibly as an exile. Only almost after 500 years after his death was John Duns Scotus finally vindicated in 1854 when Pope Pius IX declared the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. Pope John Paul II on March 20th 1992 beatified Scotus and his feastday is celebrated on Nov.9th.
He died in Cologne, Germany on Nov. 8th 1308 at the age of 42.