Today is the 140th anniversary of the apparition. Stupidly, I only realised that when I tried to book accommodation for tonight because I wanted to spend all day there tomorrow for the feast of the Queenship of Mary. Needless to say, there's no room at the inn for me tonight so I'll have a very early start tomorrow. Our Lady of Knock pray for us.
I had no idea that the apparition at Knock occurred ON THE VERY DAY that a statue of Our Lady of La Salette was being crowned at a formal ceremony in France! My father's family lived near Knock and I like to think that I am related, even distantly, to one or more of the visionaries. See the video below:
The Feast of Our Lady of Knock is actually on 17th August because August 21st is the feast of St. Pius X. I did my pilgrimage to Knock today. The Basilica was full for the conclusion of the Novena to Our Lady. Whoever is responsible for fitting out the basilica must have consulted Susan from the Parish Council (see @parish on Twitter). No kneelers and everyone stands for the Consecration. The basilica is "in the round" and the ground slopes upward from the sanctuary area so kneeling on the ground means the feet are higher than the knees. There was a kind of Benediction at the end of Mass. The priest put the Sacred Host in the Monstrance and blessed the congregation. The celebrant knelt briefly after putting the Host in the Monstrance. Everyone else stood and, other than those in the first few rows, looked down on Our Lord and Saviour. The chief celebrant was a Jesuit who is popular here, especially with the secular media . We got the usual Jesuit type homily about refugees and migrants and people from all religions being equally God's children. A big round of applause for the homily. Needless to say, there wasn't a mention of the millions of God's children slaughtered by abortion every year or the real marginalised being people who try to draw attention to the silent scream of those defenceless babies. Plenty of billionaires, politicians, the EU and the UN make the case for refugees and migrants, and nearly all of them are up to their armpits in the blood of the innocents. In fairness to that priest, he does run a shelter for homeless young men but I have a better chance of winning the Euromillions lottery than hearing him give a voice to the voiceless victims of abortion. I wouldn't set foot in Knock if Our Lady hadn't appeared there. I had just about decided that today would be my last visit there when I read the passage in In Sine Jesu where Our Lady told the monk author that she wants priests to go to Knock. Any priests reading this: the Blessed Sacrament chapel is down the back past the toilets. There was a suggestion box in one of the buildings. I was prompted to pop in a note saying "kneel in this life or burn in the next" but maybe I'll send them a few copies of In Sine Jesu instead. Our Lady Queen of Ireland, please get the message through to our Bishops and priests that the 1st Commandment isn't a suggestion. And please, please pray for us.
I am sure the priest could see you Dolours rolling your eyes during his sermonlol What a sad state of affairs that they have stripped the basilica of everything Catholic!
There is a little alcove in the basilica with a tabernacle and kneelers but nothing remotely resembling a kneeler for anyone attending Mass. Communion was something else. The pews are rows of seats like in a football stadium except that they are made of varnished wood. The seat flips up when the person stands. People don't line up for Communion when the basilica is full. Instead, the people stay in place and stand and the priest walks along each row, giving out Holy Communion. Everyone has to stand, whether or not they are receiving Communion, to make room for the priest. It's simply bizarre. The Blessed Sacrament chapel is what I suppose could be described as minimalist. It's decorated in dull shades of a kind of greyish brown. The walls and ceiling seem to be finished in a kind of terylene dashing and are painted cream. There's the usual marble, butcher's slab type altar with a cloth, monstrance and rather plain candelabra either side of the monstrance. At the end of adoration, a very young man came in, removed the Sacred Host from the monstrance, put it in the tabernacle, and removed the candleabra. Not so much as a prayer said aloud. I'm sure that everyone there said the Sacrament most Holy prayer silently but it all seemed weird. Thank God I got that In Sinu Jesu book. Had I not read that passage encouraging priests (and presumably the rest of us) to visit Knock, I don't think I would have made it through the day. The good news for anyone who can get there is that there will be a TLM Mass offered in the parish church on 7th September. I think it will be at 2 p.m., probably timed so it doesn't clash with 3 p.m. Mass in the basilica. The basilica isn't suitable for the TLM. There is a nice mural in the basilica, and the sanctuary area has nice white marble. PS: I'm ashamed to say that I did roll my eyes a few times. Fortunately, he couldn't see me because he was facing the other direction. Just as well, too, because I can't bring myself to join in rounds of applause during Mass. In fairness, there wasn't really anything wrong with the sermon but there was nothing in it that we aren't hearing from politicians and billionaires. It doesn't seem to occur to today's Jesuits that the God who is upset to see many of his children hungry or homeless might be equally upset at seeing many of his children murdered by direct abortion or abortifacient birth control pills. If it does occur to them, they never get around to mentioning it. Like the politicians, they put more value on the lives of God's children they can see than those they can't see. They forget that God sees all.
Unfortunately the mural is not an accurate representation of the apparition. The Adoration Chapel built on the site of the apparition is a truer representation. Knock is first and foremost a Eucharistic apparition rather than a Marian apparition.... As I understand it....
It looks to me that there are layers of meaning to the Knock apparition. Reading the passage about Knock in the In Sinu Jesu book, it looks like another tie-in with the prophecies about the crisis of faith in the priesthood. Here's a few snippets of what Our Lady said in locution to the monk who wrote In Sinu Jesu: "Knock is for all my people, but it was, from the beginning, destined to be a place of healing and of abundant graces for priests. Let this be made known to the bishops and priests of my Church. I long to be the Virgin Bride and Mother of all priests. In sacred intimacy with me they will find the holiness that my son desires to give each of them: a radiant holiness, a holiness that will illumine the Church in these last days with the brightness of the Lamb". "I am here at Knock for you and for all priests. Knock bears witness to the gift and mystery of the priesthood. I came to Knock to reveal myself in a special way as the Mother of priests. I want my priests to come here. Here I will comfort them. Here I will heal them. Here I will restore them to purity and to holiness of life." "Here you are surrounded by St. Joseph, my beloved and most chaste spouse, by St. John, my adopted son so dear to my Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart, and by the Archdeacon Cavanagh, a priest devoted to me, who intercedes in heaven for all who come to Knock." Incidentally, from what I've read thus far of that In Sinu Jesu book, Jesus is assuring priests that He will be their companion and solution to feelings of loneliness or isolation. That seems particularly relevant now with all the talk about ending priestly celibacy.
Thank you, Dolours. It seems you gave a far more accurate representation of what Knock is currently. This will not deter me from visiting but it did prepare me for what I would find there. I have always loved the whole, beautiful apparition and will be thrilled to visit such a holy place.
I don't like the Knock basilica either. A Catholic church with no kneelers is just wrong. The apparition chapel is much better. I love the depiction of the apparition, the statues are truly beautiful. I am drawn to the Lamb on the altar, which to my eyes, seems to be gazing upon Our Lady of Knock, His mother. However, the altar and tabernacle are too modernistic and rather ugly. The original parish church is beautiful too, with a traditional high altar and sanctuary railings. +
I have no more insights or knowledge than the next person. I only read that passage from In Sine Jesu when I arrived in Knock. Don't let anything I say put you off going to Knock. I'm no angel and have been guilty in the past of much of what I now find repugnant in others. Kinda like a reformed smoker. (I wish.........but that's another story ). As SgC said, the Apparition Chapel is special - not because there's anything very fancy about it but because the statues are a good depiction of the apparition and that's where Our Lady appeared with St. Joseph, St. John and the Lamb of God. Sometimes there are unscheduled Masses in the Apparition Chapel. On my previous visit when I called into the chapel early in the morning a visiting priest offered Mass there. They also have Adorations in the Apparition Chapel in the evenings - beginning at about 7 or 7.50 p.m. And the Blessed Sacrament chapel being out of the way means that it's really quiet and peaceful in there. No passers by wandering around and no idle chatter. Sure, the decor is dull but the Light of Heaven is there, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. Communion in the basilica isn't always as I described in my earlier post. People line up for Communion when there are fewer pilgrims there. The parish church is nice too. It's similar to many Irish parish churches built after Catholic Emancipation, probably with some additional touches over the years as parishioners' circumstances improved. The altar rails are still there although they aren't used at regular Masses. They have TLM Mass in the parish church at 5.30 p.m. on the second Sunday of every month. No doubt the altar rails are used then. There's a Way of the Cross up a hill but many people do the Stations of the Cross near the parish church. You'll see people praying the Stations there - each station is framed in hedging. The names of the stations (e.g. Jesus falls the first time) are in Irish but you can tell from the statuary which station is being depicted. Who ever takes care of the grounds does an excellent job. (I wish they lived near me and would do small gardens.) There's a cafe near the museum where you can get something to eat. There's also another building which seems to be a centre for the disabled but I'm not really sure what it's main purpose is. Anyway, you can get a cheap cup of tea or coffee there and I've seen people there eat packed lunches they brought from home. It's a lot plainer than the cafe but so what if you're on pilgrimage. There's also counselling available and group prayer sessions, and I think there are some children's activities in a building somewhere in the direction of the Reconciliation Chapel. If you're not sure, just ask someone. The staff are pleasant and will help as much as they can. A visit to Knock could well be frustrating for people of a more traditionalist outlook, but there's still lots there to nurture our faith. I hope that knowing what to expect will spare you being disillusioned when you get there and possibly shattering a dream. The Knock apparition didn't happen for just any old reason. Fortunately for me, In Sine Jesu reminded me of that. Have a blessed pilgrimage there, and if you get a chance, please squeeze in a prayer for me.
Thank you, this helps me greatly. My husband's family is from Ireland and his dream is to bring our children and grandchildren to visit some of his special places while attending a large family reunion. We are hoping to make the trip in 2020, but as usual, there are obstacles.
I'm glad it helped you. Entrust the trip to Our Lady and if it's to happen the obstacles will be overcome. I've been checking out the website of Silverstream Priory. That the Benedictine community where the author of In Sinu Jesu is a monk. I don't think it's all that far from me - probably less than an hour's drive. Think I'll try to get to Mass there. There's a blog post on the website which looks like it may have been written by that monk-author. Here's a link: https://vultuschristi.org/index.php/2019/08/the-grace-of-knock-and-the-priesthood-2/ The blogger talks about praying in the room where Archdeacon Cavanagh, PP of Knock at the time of the apparition, died on the feast of Immaculate Conception. The date the blogger prayed there (Feb. 5, 2008) is the same date as the locutions about Knock recorded in the In Sinu Jesu book. The blogger says that it was believed in Knock that Archdeacon Cavanagh received visits from Our Lady. I didn't know that. Anyway, the room where Archdeacon Cavanagh died was a room used as an oratory in St. Mary's Hostel for Pilgrims which was run by the Daughters of Charity. I've stayed overnight in St. Mary's. There aren't any nuns there now but pilgrims can book a room there. It's very basic en suite accommodation, clean and very reasonably priced. Right across the street from the Shrine, it's the most convenient place to stay. Non-residents can book mid-day meals there (I'm not sure about breakfast or dinner). It's a set menu with no options but very reasonably priced. How far in advance meals must be booked probably depends on how busy they are. I'm wondering now whether lay pilgrims are permitted to visit that room/oratory. If I ever stay there again, I'll ask.
I recall reading that Archdeacon Cavanagh had just completed 100 Masses for the Holy Souls when the apparition occurred so there is some connection too with the dear Souls who rely on us so much. Don't forget them if you go there.
Marino Restrepo also made a connection to the holy souls when he spoke about Knock in one of his talks.
Yes, from the blogpost on Silverstream Priory's website: It is not generally known that the apparition at Knock took place on the evening of the very day when Archdeacon Cavanagh had completed offering one hundred Masses for the Holy Souls in Purgatory, without receiving any stipend from the people. Preaching at Knock in 1882, he said, “We leave all our actions at the disposal of the Blessed Virgin Mary for those holy souls who, when released from purgatory, will never forget us. They will pray constantly for us at the throne of God.” Kilkelly is between 5 and 10 miles from Knock. This song, based on actual letters written from a man in Kilkelly to his son in the US, will give you an idea of what life was like for the people living there at that time. The apparition took place in August, 1879, and the letters span the years 1860 - 1892. The song is probably familiar to you but it might be helpful to others.
As far as I am aware Archdeacon Cavanagha's room is now an oratory with the Blessed Sacrament reserved there on the 1st floor of St Mary's. When I have stayed in St Mary's I have gone to say a prayer there when I wake in the night. It's lovely. When staying in Knock I always go to the Carmelite Convent which is located not far from the museum for morning Mass at 8.30. I was in Knock recently when Dr Briege McKenna was there. She came to the Carmelites to the Mass and prayed for healing for all present. I think all Basilica's built in the past 50 years are not beautiful. I do not like the basilica in Fatima or San Giovanni or Lourdes. I think the Basilica in Knock is better than the others. It looks much better since it's its recent makeover. Architect's for these type of structures seem to focus on getting as many bodies in and out as quickly as possible. We certainly are not going to get a 'Notre Dame' in this age. It's all about efficiency not the 'sacred'. Saying that though I think the restoration of Longford Cathedral is beautiful. It was almost burnt to the ground a few years back but is now beautifully restored.
