KNOCK SHRINE

Knock is a small town located in the county of Mayo in Ireland. It became Internationally famous after the local people witnessed the apparation of the virgin Mary, St. John the Evangelist and St. Joseph at the parish church on 21 August 1879.

The Blessed Virgin Mary was standing several feet above the ground and described as extremely beautiful. She was wearing a white cloak, hanging in full folds and fastened at the neck.

Her crown was descibed as brilliant, and of a golden brightness, of a deeper hue, than the striking whiteness of the robe she wore. Upper parts of the crown appeared to be a series of glittering crosses.

She looked to be "deep in prayer", with her eyes raised upwards. Her hands were raised to the shoulders, and her palms inclined slightly to the shoulders.

St John was standing to the left of the Blessed Virgin. He was dressed in a long robe and wore a mitre. He appeared to be preaching and he held open a large book in his left hand.

St Joseph wore white robes, stood to the right of Mary. His head was bowing from the shoulders, towards the Blessed Virgin

The people who witnessed the apparition stood in the pouring rain for a couple of hours reciting the Rosary( a traditional Catholic prayer).

When the apparition started, the light was very good. When the light faded, witnesses could still see the figures very clearly, because they were so bright.

The people who witnessed the vision said that the ground around the figures remained completely dry, and the wind was blowing from the south. Later, the gable became dark, and the ground at the gable became wet.

The visions were declared to be trustworthy by the catholic church.

Back in 1979, the pope ( Pope John Paul II) made a personel pilgrimage to Knock, where he presented a golden rose (a very important token of papal recognition and honour).

In these times, more than one and a half million pilgrims visit Knock every year.

 

 

 

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