Blessed William Lacey

Biography

Blessed William Lacey was born in Horton, Yorkshire, England, although the exact date of his birth is not known. He married a widow named Creswell and became a stepfather to her two sons, both of whom later joined the Jesuit order. Blessed William held a civil service position, possibly as a coroner, until around 1565 when his Catholic faith started to attract persecution.

Due to his unwavering commitment to Catholicism, Blessed William faced considerable difficulties and was imprisoned for some time in Hull. After his release, he became a widower and decided to embark on a journey to the European continent in 1580. His first stops were Rheims and Pont-a-Mousson in France, where he spent some time. Later, he traveled to Rome, Italy, where he obtained a dispensation to study for the priesthood.

Following his ordination as a priest, Blessed William Lacey returned to England with the intention of ministering to the covert Catholic community. However, his efforts to spread and preserve the Catholic faith were short-lived. He was arrested on 22 July 1582 in York Castle for the crime of being a priest.

Blessed William's refusal to renounce his priesthood and his steadfastness in his Catholic beliefs earned him severe ill-treatment at the hands of his captors. He was subjected to abuse, loaded with chains, and imprisoned underground. Additionally, he endured repeated interrogations, all aimed at extracting information about other Catholics and their activities. Despite the harsh conditions, Blessed William never wavered from his faith.

On 22 August 1582, Blessed William Lacey was executed for his crime of being a priest. He became one of the Martyrs of Douai, a group of English Catholic priests who were put to death during this period of intense persecution in England. His feast day is celebrated on 22 August, and he is also honored on 29 October as one of the Martyrs of Douai.

After centuries of veneration and recognition for his sacrifice, Blessed William Lacey was officially beatified by Pope Leo XIII on 29 December 1886. His beatification confirms his cultus, signifying his recognized status as a blessed servant of God.

Unfortunately, no specific information about his representations or other venerated aspects is available at this time. However, the facts surrounding his life and martyrdom attest to his unwavering commitment to his faith and his bravery in serving the Catholic community during a time of immense persecution.