BL. WILLIAM LACY, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 22 AUGUST

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN AUGUST

Saints celebrated on the 22nd of August

WELCOME!

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.