Nicholas Pieck

Saint Nicholas Pieck, O.F.M.
Religious, priest and martyr
Born	29 August 1534 Gorkum, Netherlands, Spanish Empire
Died	9 July 1572 Brielle, Southern Netherlands, Spanish Empire
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church (Order of Friars Minor)
Beatified	24 November 1675, Rome, Papal States, by Pope Clement X
Canonized	29 June 1867, Rome, Papal States, by Pope Pius IX
Major shrine	Brielle, South Holland, Netherlands
Feast	9 July

Nicholas Pieck, O.F.M., was a Franciscan friar who one of a group of Catholic clergy and lay brothers who were executed for refusal to renounce their faith in 1579.

He was born in the town of Gorkum (now Gorinchem), the son of Jan Pieck and Henriea Clavia, devout Catholics. He was sent to college at 's-Hertogenbosch, and as soon as he had completed his classical studies he received the habit of the Friars Minor at the friary in that town. Nicholas was ordained a priest in 1558, devoting himself to the apostolic ministry. He was appointed Guardian of the friary in Gorkum, his native town.

Pieck preached against Calvinism. In particular, he preached the dogma of the Real Presence. In June 1572, the citadel of Gorkum was taken by the Watergeuzen. Pieck and eight other Franciscan friars were captured and tortured. Other priests were captured, bringing the total to 19. They were marched to Brielle (Den Briel) in July. The commander of the Watergeuzen, William II de la Marck, promised them freedom if they would renounce the authority of the pope and belief in the Real Presence. None did. Despite instructions from Prince William the Silent to spare them, the members of the group were hanged on 9 July 1572, and became known as the Martyrs of Gorkum.

The members of the group were canonized in 1867.

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "St. Nicholas Pieck". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.