GORCUM, MARTYRS OF - A group of 19 religious and secular priests who fell into the hands of Calvinists (Sea Beggars) during the capture of the city of GORCUM (Holland) on 26 June 1572.
They are: 11 Franciscans, of whom 9 were priests: Nicolaas Pieck, guardian, Girolamo van Weerden, Theodorus van Emden, Nicasio Johnson, Willibald of Denmark, Goffredo van Merville, Antonio van Weerden, Antonio van Hoornaer, Francesco Rhodes, and 2 lay brothers: Pieter van Asche and Cornelis van Wijck; 2 Premonstratensians: Adrianus van Hilvarenbeek and Jan Lacops; 1 Dominican: Jan van Cologne; 1 Augustinian: Jan van Oisterwijk; 4 secular priests: Leonardus Wechel, parish priest of G., and his vicar Nicolaas Poppel, Goffredo van Duynen, and Andreas Wouters. Imprisoned and tortured, they defended the real presence in the Eucharist and the primacy of the pope. Taken to Brielle, they were hanged on 9 July 1572. Beatified by Clement X in 1675, they were canonized by Pius IX on 29 June 1867. Feast day: 9 July.