Great, Maryrose, I'll make it my business to visit that oratory next time I'm there. When I was there, I asked one of the staff had the building been a convent because it looked like a convent but she said she didn't know and didn't seem to know much about it. Maybe she was new to the area and just doing summer work. I had wondered where was the Parish Priest's house in Knock. I've seen the signs for that Carmelite Abbey but didn't know it was a convent. A couple of times I've been to Knock there were what I'm sure were Carmelite priests hearing Confessions. One young African priest really impressed me. I wondered if they were based in the Abbey but obviously not if it's a convent. I really hoped to get to see Sr. Briege when she was in Ireland and had planned to go to the Mass in Whitehall but something came up here which put the kibosh on that plan. Maybe I'll get to see her next time she's here. Couldn't agree more about Longford Cathedral. Sometimes we would stop in Longford for a bite to eat on our way to Knock. Last time we went that route we visited the Cathedral. I thought it was absolutely beautiful - everything a Cathedral should be. While we won't be getting another Notre Dame, I think that Longford is an example of how to get it right. Yes, Knock basilica was really in need of a makeover because it was very shabby. It's certainly smarter now and better quality material has gone into the refurbishment. The refurbishment must have cost a fortune but it makes no sense that the funds didn't stretch to installing kneelers - none at all! From what I've read, there seems to be a trend of getting rid of kneelers. Maybe kneelers add to long term maintenance costs and with fewer people contributing, they're thinking that it's better to not install anything which could be an extra financial burden for future generations? Seating in churches is a relatively recent thing - possibly post-Reformation - but standing for the Consecration and Benediction seems so wrong to me. I've never been to Fatima or San Giovanni and it's been so many years since my last visit to Lourdes that I don't remember what the basilica was like. I'm half-hoping to go Lourdes next year. As an aside, I met a young Frenchman in Knock and he told me that Paray Le Monial is the nicest shrine in all of France. I'd love to see it.
O yes Paray Le Monial is on my bucket list. Earlier this year I checked with Joe Walsh Tours on any pilgrimage s to Paray but there was none from Ireland. Maybe I will get there next year. I'm going to the Divine Mercy shrine in Krakow in November instead. The Carmelite Convent is across the road at the back of the museum. It's a new bungalow type building called '' Tranquila. It's situated off the road amongst trees and not visible from the shrine grounds. There seems to be about 12 nuns, some quite young. There is a little porch in front where you can write a prayer request and if you wish to speak to a sister about your request you can ring the bell . Yes I agree it's unfortunate about the kneelers. There has been a campaign writing to the shrine about that. As far as I recall there are no kneelers in Fatima either and they have a grotesque crucifix over the altar. It was most disturbing.
BYOKneeler Bring your own, bring a small cushion to kneel on and when I am faced with that deplorable situation, I sit, and I crouch over in prayer. My knees are bad, anyway, so even in a church with kneelers I have to do that. Maybe this will work for some.
The presence of Our Lady I found everywhere in Knock just as it does everywhere she appears, like a rich perfume. I managed to get to mass once or twice in the Carmelite Convent. It would have been nice to talk to the Carmelite Nuns, but I was a little shy. The old Church is a jewel. It would have been nice to get there in October but I see it closes at the end of September , a great pity. The locals beleived that Archdeacon Cavanugh was a saint and it was due to him that Mary came there in the first place; I supect they were right. It seems to me that the Appartion points to the Book of Revelation and our own present day of national Apostasy. I hate crowds anyway so nutarrly avoided the Basilica. Whicch is rather like a concrete Circus Tent.
My favourite place was in frnot of the appartion site itself, I spent hours there just looking and praying and trying to work out what it all meant.
Yes it's sad. Sad because it gives an idea of what emigration does to families and sometimes whole communities. Sad, too, because mankind hasn't found a better solution for oppression and exploitation of the poor by their governments. Rather than dealing with the cause, the rich and powerful in the developed world use the plight of the oppressed to gain ever more control over the poor in their own countries. The congregation in Knock basilica were mostly older people. Thanks to our history, there's something ingrained in Irish people that we must own the roof over our heads no matter how modest the home. Many took out mortgages. Many others rented homes built by local authorities and went on to buy those homes via rental purchase schemes. We, therefore, have a high rate of home ownership, especially among the elderly. In the vast majority of cases, it's their only real asset - something that will be passed on to their children when they die. When I looked at all those people applauding the priest, I saw people applauding themselves being taxed out of their homes by some variation of the British bedroom tax. It's in our nature to welcome the stranger so of course everybody applauds "help the poor and oppressed" but I believe there's a huge gap between what they were applauding and what they thought they were applauding. My heart sank when I heard the name of the celebrant. He does, indeed, do a lot of work for homeless lads and has devoted his life to the cause. He probably isn't much older than me and back in the day I would have been something of an admirer. In a lot of respects, we have become the kind of society he promoted in his youth but that society hasn't solved the problems we had back then. I think it would be fair to say that our problems are worse now than then. Back then, for the most part we had stronger, more stable families and that's the bedrock of a stable society. There are signs that our stable society is beginning to unravel. More of the same won't fix it and without fixing our own problems I don't see how bringing in replacements for our lost generation will fix anything for us or for those we are being guilt tripped into absorbing into our troubled society. "Sins of the flesh" do a lot more harm than most people are willing to acknowledge. I reckon the chances of that priest acknowledging it are close to zero.
I prefer to travel independently than to go on organised pilgrimages or package holidays. I looked up Paray Le Monial a while ago thinking I could combine with with Lourdes or Rue du Bac. I scratched that plan when I realised how hard it would be, particularly because I don't speak a word of French. My own past experience and stories from others who travelled there convinced me to have everything planned down to the minutest detail before going to France. Krakow is on my bucket list too. I'm really envious of you going there this year. I've never heard a bad word about Poland from anyone who has been there. And it seems to get almost universal approval from people on the travel forums. Looking at pictures on the internet, there's gorgeous scenery and magnificent old churches. Don't forget to give us a report about your experiences there when you return. I'll be looking forward to that. Thanks for the info about the Carmelite convent. I'll check it out next time I'm in Knock. I saw on the Knock Shrine website that the Knights of Malta offer accommodation for pilgrims. It was hard to figure out its location from the website but I saw it on Thursday. It's actually located on the road leading to the old carpark - the carpark behind the shops on the main street so it's quite near the shrine. Do you know anything about it? I've stayed in the main hotel and it's really nice but I felt a little bit like it was cheating to stay there while on pilgrimage.
I've seen that in Protestant churches here. Some of the cushions had bible verses embroidered on them. It reminded me of old stories about ladies from bygone years busying themselves with needlework. Bringing your own kneeler isn't a bad idea. Although the floor covering in Knock basilica isn't hard on the knees, the sloping floor makes kneeling awkward and the cushion could be a solution.
There has to be something special about the country that gave us St. Maximilian Kolbe, St. Faustina and St. John Paul.
On reflection, I really shouldn't have been so harsh in my criticism of that priest who celebrated the Mass in Knock. That I'm not his biggest fan doesn't give me the right to disrespect him. He has worked tirelessly for the homeless here and he certainly isn't responsible for the design of Knock basilica.
I used to work at Knock Shrine many years ago. The building you're referring to Dolours is St. John's Rest and Care Centre, situated behind the book shop. It is mainly used for long distance pilgrims who would mainly be arriving on buses for special pilgrimage days. A lot of these pilgrims could have various disabilities and would be tended to by their own carers and also voluntary staff ( hand maids and stewards) from the Shrine itself. The Rest and Care Centre is also used for talks and workshops throughout the year, mainly off season. Archdeacon Cavanagh's bedroom in St. Mary's Hostel, just across from the Church was converted into an oratory some years ago and still remains a lovely place to pray. A friend who also worked at the Shrine told me that one day she met some visitors who had just happened on Knock on their trip around the West of Ireland and were curious about the feeling of a buzzing/tremors around the Shrine grounds. My friend couldn't feel anything but the others could in every step. Also a person known to this site attended a silent retreat in Knock some years ago and was in the Shrine itself one afternoon. This person experienced Our Lady speaking to them and She (OL) said the graces which were offered when She appeared in 1879 are still available to those who visit and pray in the Shrine. This was confirmed the following day from the Shrine pulpit during mass, by the spiritual director of the retreat. I love going to Knock although would usually try for mid week when it would be much quieter.
Thank you for that information. As far as I can recall, the reason I went into St. John's Centre that day was that I was pushing a wheelchair and looking for a wheelchair accessible bathroom. Then we got a cuppa and a rest. I vaguely remember there was someone selling holy pictures, medals, etc. that day in aid of some apostolate but I don't recall the details. I'm annoyed that nobody mentioned Archdeacon Cavanagh's bedroom when I stayed in St. Mary's. And if there was any notice giving directions to it, I didn't see it. I'll be sure to check it out next time I'm there. Yes, I prefer to go there mid-week. I didn't realise it would be so busy on that Thursday. I went for what I thought was the anniversary of my consecration renewal but obviously I've got the wrong Feast day because the Shrine wasn't nearly so busy last year when I went to do the consecration. I have a head like a sieve. Thanks again for the information.
His bedroom is on the first floor hallway as far as I remember. There was nothing to distinguish it from other rooms apart from a little holy water font beside the door. Hopefully it is still there.
