138th Anniversary of Our Lady's Appearance at Knock

"On this day at about this time, 136 [now 138] years ago the veil between Heaven and earth was removed when Our Lady appeared. On that occasion she was accompanied by Saint Joseph and Saint John the Evangelist. To their left appeared the Lamb of God on the altar against the background of the cross.  While the apparition has a very definite Marian message it also has an undeniable Eucharistic dimension.  The Eucharist is central to the message of the apparition....

"Here at Knock unlike other Marian Shrines, as you know, there was no verbal message but rather silence which speaks louder than words and is very conducive to the true spirit of adoration and praise.  Central to the celebration of the Eucharist must also be service....

"Here at Our Lady’s Shrine pilgrims come day after day, year after year to worship and adore the Lord and to ask the help of His Mother.  They endeavour to cope with everything that life throws at them, whether it is ageing, illness, so many family difficulties, upset, trouble or worry about the future and the kind of society which our young face.  Pilgrims come in search of healing and hope....


"Here at Knock the Stewards and Handmaids continue to testify to Mary’s concern by taking her advice 'do whatever my Son tells you'....

"As we give thanks for 80 years of dedicated service on behalf of the Knock Shrine Society in their Stewards and Handmaids we make Mary’s Magnificat our own...." (Archbishop Michael Neary, 8/21/15).