Martyr of England. Born in Horton, West Riding, Yorkshire, he distinguished himself as a lawyer and as an ardent Catholic, using his house as a refuge for the much-oppressed Catholics of the time. Following the death of his second wife in 1579, he left England and studied at Reims, France, in preparation for his eventual ordination at Rome. William returned to England and worked in the area of Yorkshire until his arrest. He was arrested in York Prison while participating in the Eucharistic ceremony being sung in the cell of Blessed Thomas Bell. Condemned, he was executed at Knavesmaire,just outside of York with Blessed Richard Kirkman. William was beatified in 1886.
Saint of the Day Quote: Blessed William Lacey
- Donald R. McClarey
Donald R. McClarey
Cradle Catholic. Active in the pro-life movement since 1973. Father of three, one in Heaven, and happily married for 43 years. Small town lawyer and amateur historian. Former president of the board of directors of the local crisis pregnancy center for a decade.
Blesseds William Lacy and Richard Kirkman were martyred under Queen Elizabeth I. Is there an accurate count of priests, consecrated religious and fathful lay men and women who murdered for their Catholicism beginning under Henry VIII? Are new names coming to light even now?
I think we have most names. In most cases we retain the judicial records.