MANCHESTER, England – A priest related to Princes William and Harry took a major step closer to sainthood when Pope Francis declared him venerable.
Like St. John Henry Newman, Passionist Father Ignatius Spencer is considered one of the towering figures of the 19th-century revival of English Catholicism, often referred to by church historians as the “Second Spring.” The Feb. 21 announcement means the Catholic Church is satisfied that Fr. Spencer lived a life of heroic virtue.
The search will now begin for two inexplicable healings at the intercession of the priest – one to declare him as blessed and the other to recognize him as a saint.
Fr. Spencer is related to Prince William, the second in line to the British throne, and to Harry, the sixth in the line of succession, through their mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.
The Passionist was a great-great-great uncle of Princess Diana, and a great-uncle of Sir Winston Churchill.
A former Anglican clergyman who became a Catholic, he raised money to bring Blessed Dominic Barberi – the priest who would receive St. John Henry Newman into the Church – to England and petitioned the Passionists to send him.
He also helped found the Passionist Sisters with Mother Elizabeth Prout, whom Pope Francis declared venerable in January.
Fr. Spencer’s grave is located beside both Mother Prout and Blessed Dominic in the Church of St. Anne and Blessed Dominic in St. Helens, a town in the Archdiocese of Liverpool.
Archbishop Malcolm McMahon of Liverpool said he welcomed the pope’s announcement with “great happiness,” adding that it was a “remarkable grace” for the archdiocese to have both Father Spencer and Mother Prout declared venerable within weeks of each other.
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