
Catholic
Character
A spiritual resource for Catholics
Our Lady of Knock
Location: Knock, Count Mayo, Ireland
Address: Drum, Knock, Co. Mayo, F12 Y226, Ireland
Our Lady of Knock is a title of the Blessed Virgin Mary when she appeared in Ireland, Count Mayo. On Aug. 21, 1879, she appeared outside the church of St John the Baptist in a devestating time in Irish history, the Great Famine. A little girl and the priest's housekeeper were accompanying each other home, when they saw what looked at first to be lighted up statues outside their parish church, St John the Baptist church. Then they realized they were not statues at all, but rather moving beings! It was Our Lady, St John the Evangelist, St Joseph, and Our Lord Jesus Christ in the form of a lamb standing on an altar, with angels surrounding the altar. This apparition of Our Lady is unique because it is the first "silent" apparition. Not a word was spoken in the apparition, although not a word was needed for the message to be clear to the people of Mayo, that this was a message of hope. The little girl and the priest's housekeeper watched in awe. The little girl then ran home to bring her family to show them the apparition. Some believed her and others did not, and yet unbelief did not stop all from coming. There were 15 seers in all, 14 being from the village, and 1 being outside the village, who saw a light coming from the gable of the church miles away. They all witnessed in awe at the sight of Our Lady, St Joseph, Our Lord as a Lamb, and St John the Evangelist. They fell on their knees and recited the Rosary. The apparition lasted 2 hours, beginning from 8pm to 10pm.