BL. WILLIAM LACY, PRIEST AND MARTYR

BL. WILLIAM LACY, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 22 AUGUST

BLESSED WILLIAM LACY, PRIEST AND MARTYR

Born at “Hanton”, Yorkshire (probably Houghton or Tosside, West Riding); suffered at York, August 22, 1582. He married a widow, named Cresswell, whose sons, Arthur and Joseph, became Jesuits.

Little is related of his family by his biographers. He had a brother Ralph of Preston in Amounderness, a sister Barbara, and nephews (apparently her sons) Robert and William.

He held a position of emolument under the Crown, possibly as coroner, till about 1565. After fourteen years’ persecution for his faith, which included imprisonment at Hull, and after the death of his wife, he went abroad and arrived at Reims, June 22, 1580.

HE BECAME A PRIEST

On September 25 following he went on to Pont-a-Mousson, and thence to Rome, where, after obtaining a dispensation, he became a priest. The dispensation was necessary before ordination, as Lacy had been married twice, once to a widow.

HE WAS ARRESTED AFTER A MASS SAID BY THOMAS BELL

He was arrested after a Mass said by Thomas Bell, afterwards an apostate, in York Castle, July 22, 1582. He suffered great hardships, being loaded with heavy irons, confined in an underground dungeon, and subjected to numerous examinations. He was arraigned on August 11. With him suffered Blessed Richard Kirkman, born at Addingham, in the West Riding. He arrived at Douai in 1577 and, after the transference of the English College to Reims, was ordained priest on Holy Saturday, 1579.

On his return to England in August he seems to have found a refuge with Robert Dymoke, hereditary Champion of England (died in Lincoln gaol for his faith, September 11, 1580), at Scrivelsby, Lincolnshire. He was eventually arrested, August 8, 1582, by Francis Wortley, J.P.

THEY SHARED ONE CELL IN A TURRET

After condemnation the two martyrs shared one cell in a turret till August 10, when Blessed Richard was removed to an underground dungeon. Blessed William was martyred on August 22.

Source: Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913 - 📷 York Minster

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that we who know how courageously your holy martyr William confessed the faith, may experience his goodness as he intercedes for us with you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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BL. LUKE KIRBY, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 30 MAY

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BL. RICHARD NEWPORT, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 30 MAY

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MAY Saints celebrated on the 30th of May WELCOME! BLESSED RICHARD NEWPORT, PRIEST AND MARTYR Richard Newport, alias Smith , was born in Northamptonshire and performed his studies abroad, partly in the college of Rheims (if he be the Richard Smith whom I find in the Douay diary sent to Rome in 1586) and partly in that of Rome, where he was made priest. From thence he was sent upon the English mission, and behaved himself in such a manner as justly to acquire the character of a laborious missionary; being withal remarkably successful in bringing home many strayed sheep to the fold of Christ, to which his apostolical way of living did not a little contribute. He was several times apprehended and cast into prison, and twice banished. His name occurs amongst those who were transported in 1606; at which time, we are told, he took that opportunity of making a pilgrimage to Rome, there to pour forth his prayers at the tombs of the apostles, in behalf of thi...

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