Day 1

I have arrived in Knock, County Mayo, Ireland. The flight was long but it was worth the jetlag and uncomfortable seating to see the gorgeous sights here in Knock, especially one I am very excited about, the Knock Shrine. It is one of Europe’s major Catholic Marian shrines and over one and half million people visit there every year. And I will be one of those people. It is said that hundreds of miraculous cures have been reported there, including one of a deaf twelve-year-old girl who regained her hearing ten days after the apparition. Oh, have I told you about what happened here at Knock in 1879? At the time County Mayo was suffering great distress from poor harvest and hunger. On the evening of Thursday 21st of August, two women from the small village; Mary McLoughlin and Mary Beirne (coincidence maybe?), were walking near the south gable of Knock Parish Church. There they noticed three luminous figures. These figures were the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph and St. John the Evangelist. They appeared to them in a blaze of Heavenly light. Mary Beirne went off to alert her family and came back with them and their neighbours and they all gathered in the pouring rain. Fifteen local witness, ranging from young and old, said they could see a plain altar and on it a cross, a lamb and adoring angels flying around it. They watched the Apparition for two hours and no words were spoken. Many interesting things have happened here and I can’t wait to learn more about them. The date is the 20th of August which means tomorrow is the 21st, and that is the feast day of Our Lady of Knock! I hope something special happens tomorrow! I’m off to sleep before the big day tomorrow. Goodnight readers!