William Lacy (Catholic priest) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids BlessedWilliam Lacy |
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|---|---|
| Martyr | |
| Born | Yorkshire, England |
| Died | 22 August 1582 York, England |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 29 December 1886 by Pope Leo XIII |
| Feast | 22 August |
| Attributes | Martyr's palm, evangelistary |
William Lacy (who died in 1582) was an English Catholic priest. He is remembered as a martyr. He and another priest, Richard Kirkman, were executed in York on August 22, 1582. They were put to death for their Catholic faith during a time when it was not allowed in England.
Contents
Who Was William Lacy?
Early Life and Faith
William Lacy was born in Houghton or Tosside, in Yorkshire, England. He married a widow named Cresswell. Her sons later became Jesuits, who are members of a Catholic religious order.
William Lacy held an important job for the government. Around 1565, he started to listen to priests who came from Catholic colleges abroad. They told him that he could not attend Protestant churches and still follow his Catholic beliefs.
Facing Challenges for His Beliefs
Because William Lacy stopped going to Protestant churches, his absence was noticed. He was forced to leave his job. He also had to pay many fines. This made it very hard for him to live at home.
For about 14 years, William Lacy faced difficulties because of his faith. He often had to move from place to place. He was even put in prison in Hull.
Becoming a Priest
After his wife passed away, William Lacy traveled abroad. He arrived in Reims, France, in June 1580. From there, he went to Pont-à-Mousson and then to Rome.
In Rome, he became a priest. He needed special permission to become a priest because he had been married to a widow. In May 1581, he was on his way back to England.
His Final Days
William Lacy was arrested in York Castle on July 22, 1582. This happened after a Mass was held by a priest named Thomas Bell.
William Lacy faced many hardships in prison. He was put in heavy chains and kept in an underground dungeon. He was questioned many times. He was put on trial on August 11. William Lacy was executed in York on August 22, 1582.
| Blessed Richard Kirkman |
|
|---|---|
| Priest and Martyr | |
| Born | Addingham, England |
| Died | 22 August 1582 York, England |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 29 December 1886 by Pope Leo XIII |
| Feast | 22 August |
| Attributes | Noose in neck, book, martyr's palm |
Who Was Richard Kirkman?
Early Life and Priesthood
Richard Kirkman was born in Addingham, Yorkshire, England. He went to a Catholic college in Douai in 1577. This college later moved to Reims.
He became a subdeacon there in March 1579. He was then ordained as a priest on the following Holy Saturday. He celebrated his first Mass in the Abbey Church of the Benedictine nuns of St. Peter's.
His Mission in England
Richard Kirkman left for England on August 3, 1579. He traveled with Alexander Briant and three other people. When he returned to England, he found a safe place to stay. This was with Robert Dymoke at Scrivelsby, Lincolnshire.
Richard Kirkman pretended to be a schoolmaster for Dymoke's sons. He worked for four years helping Catholics in England.
Arrest and Execution
When Robert Dymoke was arrested for being Catholic, Richard Kirkman fled north. He was questioned because he was a stranger in that area. He was arrested near Wakefield on August 8, 1582.
After being found guilty, Richard Kirkman and William Lacy shared a cell. This was in a small tower until August 10. Then, Kirkman was moved to an underground dungeon. He was executed on August 22, 1582, the same day as William Lacy.
See also
Sources
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Bl. William Lacy". Catholic Encyclopedia. (1913). New York: Robert Appleton.
