Our Lady of Knock

On the rainy evening of August 21, 1879, 15 persons ranging from 5 to 75 years of age saw a two-hour vision on the roof of St. John the Baptist church in the humble village of Knock, County Mayo, Ireland. The witness confirmed that they had seen the same religious tableaux. The figures, all robed in white, were raised a couple of feet above the perfectly dry ground. In the center of the gable was a simple altar with a young lamb standing before a cross. Angels encircled this area. To the left were three figures. In the center was Mary, robed and mantled in white, with a crown on her unveiled head. A rose touched the crown's base on her forehead. Her eyes were looking upward, and her arms were outstretched, similar to that of the priest at Mass. To her right was a side view of St. Joseph, slightly bowing toward her. To her left was St. John the Apostle, robed as a bishop, looking forward, holding an open book in one hand and pointing heavenward with the other. The four figures might be thought of as representing the four Mysteries of the Rosary. St. Joseph, of course, represents the joyous mysteries because he lived during Jesus' infancy. St. John represents the brilliant mysteries associated with Our Lord's preaching and healing ministry. The Lamb reminds us of the sacrificial, sorrowful mysteries, and Mary represents the glorious mysteries. These mysteries are formally celebrated during the liturgical year. St. John Paul II pointed out that celebrating and meditating on these mysteries releases their power. St. Joseph represents the laity and family life, while St. John represents the hierarchy and evangelizing. Mary is a model of the Church's perfection. The Lamb's importance is primarily liturgical, presented from St. John the Baptist to the eternal vision in Revelation. Our Lady of Knock means "Our Lady of the Hill." The apparition's Eucharistic atmosphere relates to Calvary and the liturgy of the Church. Her crown and rose suggest she could be Queen of the Liturgy in heaven and on earth. On October 8, 1879, the Archbishop of Tuam, Most Rev. Dr. John MacHale, formed an ecclesiastical Commission of investigation. The commission's final decision was that all of the witnesses' testimony was reliable and satisfactory. People who claim to have been healed at Knock still leave crutches and sticks at the location where the apparition occurred.

Our Lady of Knock, help us, to be attentive to the Holy Spirit, diligently accept all of His teachings, and preserve them in our souls.

Jonathan Fabian Ginunggil,

Most High Servant,

Jesus, Mary, Joseph Ministry of Love 

(Blessed and Saints and the Nine Choirs of Angels)