William Ballantine (priest) facts for kids

William Ballantine (born around 1616, died 1661) was an important Roman Catholic priest from Scotland. He became the very first leader, called a Prefect, for the Catholic Church in Scotland. His work helped organize the Church during a difficult time.

William Ballantine's Early Life

William Ballantine was born in Douglas, Lanarkshire, Scotland. His father was a minister in the local church. William also had an uncle who was a judge, known as Lord Newhall.

Education and Conversion

William first studied at the University of Edinburgh. Later, he traveled to Europe. While in Paris, France, he decided to become a Catholic.

He then went to the Scotch College, Rome, a special school for Scottish priests in Rome, Italy. He joined the college on November 1, 1641. For the next five years, he studied important subjects like philosophy and theology.

Becoming a Priest

Because he was not very healthy, William became a priest earlier than most. He was ordained on December 3, 1645. After becoming a priest, he left the college in Rome in March 1646. He then spent some time at the Scotch College in Paris, getting ready for his work as a missionary.

Leading the Catholic Mission in Scotland

In 1649, William Ballantine returned to Scotland. At this time, the Catholic priests in Scotland were not very organized. There were also disagreements between them and other religious groups, like the Jesuits.

A New Leader for Scotland

William Ballantine sent another priest, William Leslie, to Rome. He asked the Holy See (the Pope and his advisors) to appoint a bishop for Scotland. This request was not granted.

However, in 1653, the Church made an important decision. They freed the Scottish priests from the control of English leaders and Jesuit superiors. Instead, they created a new group of missionaries. William Ballantine was chosen to lead this group. On October 13, 1653, he was named the first Prefect-apostolic of the Mission in Scotland. This meant he was the main leader for the Catholic Church in Scotland.

Important Conversions and Challenges

William Ballantine helped many people become Catholic. One famous person he helped was Lewis Gordon, 3rd Marquess of Huntly.

In 1656, William visited France. When he returned to England, he was arrested by Oliver Cromwell's orders. Cromwell was the leader of England at that time. William was held in prison in London for almost two years. After that, he was sent away from England. He went back to Paris, where he lived in poverty.

Return to Scotland and Final Years

In 1660, William Ballantine was able to return to Scotland. He spent his last days at the home of the Marchioness of Huntly in Elgin. He passed away on September 2, 1661, when he was 45 years old.

William Ballantine's Writings

William Ballantine wrote a book called On Preparation for Death. He based it on the writings of another person named Jean Suffren. A second edition of his book was published in 1716.