Listen As You REad
On a rainy evening in August 1879, in the small village of Knock, County Mayo, Ireland, an extraordinary event occurred that would forever change the spiritual landscape of the Emerald Isle. Fifteen villagers, ranging from young children to the elderly, witnessed what they described as a heavenly vision outside their local parish church.
The scene they beheld was both awe-inspiring and unique. An altar appeared, adorned with a cross and a lamb, surrounded by hovering angels. Beside this celestial altar stood three figures: the Virgin Mary, clothed in white with a golden crown; St. Joseph, standing to her right; and St. John the Evangelist, positioned to her left, holding what appeared to be a book.
What sets the Knock apparition apart from other Marian visions is its silent nature. Unlike the apparitions at Lourdes or Fatima, where the Virgin Mary spoke to the visionaries, the figures at Knock remained completely silent and motionless. For about two hours, they stood as still as statues, allowing the gathered crowd to observe them in reverent wonder.
This vision came at a crucial time in Irish history. The country was still reeling from the effects of the Great Famine and facing ongoing economic hardships. Many Irish Catholics viewed the apparition as a message of hope and divine comfort during these trying times.
After a century of investigation and scrutiny, the Catholic Church officially recognized the apparition in 1979. This recognition solidified Our Lady of Knock’s place in Catholic devotion, and she became known as Our Lady Queen of Ireland.
Today, the Knock Shrine stands as one of Ireland’s most important pilgrimage sites, attracting over 1.5 million visitors annually. Pilgrims come from all over the world to pray, seek healing, and experience the peace that permeates this holy place.
The Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of Knock annually on August 21st, commemorating the date of the apparition in 1879.
The novena typically begins on August 13th and concludes on August 21st. During this time, pilgrims and faithful around the world join in prayer, seeking Our Lady of Knock’s intercession and reflecting on the message of hope symbolized by her silent apparition.
Novena to Our Lady of Knock
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