Blessed John Duns Scotus

John Duns Scotus was born around 1266 in Duns, Scotland, and became a Franciscan friar. He taught theology at Oxford, Paris and Cologne and was called the "Subtle Doctor" for the depth and precision of his thought. He taught that Christ is the center of all creation and, against many theologians of his day, defended Mary's Immaculate Conception, a doctrine the Church defined in 1854. He died in Cologne on November 8, 1308, and was beatified by Saint John Paul II in 1993.

His tomb is in the Franciscan church (Minoritenkirche) of Cologne. Franciscans honor him as one of the great teachers of their order.