Well I am away on a bus trip to Knock this morning and am excited and happy to be going. Why did Our Blessed Lady choose the village of Knock? Well on visiting the little museum there I discovered that locals at the time thought it was all down to the local Parish Priest, Reverend Bartholomew Aloysius Cavanagh who as 58 years old at the time in 1867 when the apparitions occurred. He was considered to be very holy by the locals and had a huge Devotion to the Holy Souls in Purgatory and the Mother of God. https://www.knockshrine.ie/archdeacon-cavanagh/
I think all Marian Apparition Sites and all Holy Places (especially Churches during Holy Mass) open doorways between this world and the next. I always felt this in Knock. The place I felt it most, curiously was not at the actual site of the apparition itself but at the place were they hear confessions which , it seemed to have the presence of many, many Holy Souls waiting and hoping for prayer , very like another Gateway between this world and Purgatory, Lough Derg. I suppose this may have something to do with Father Cavanaugh too.
Mary never spoke at Knock ;all she had to say she said through the Tableau of light that appeared on the wall of the old Church in the soft rain that fell , to the astonishment and awe of the locals.
How lovely! If you get a chance, I advise taking a walk down to the very far corner of the Campus where the enclosed order of Carmelite Nuns are housed. One can enter the portico and speak with them through a grille. I asked them to pray for me and my intentions. But there is something awe inspiring about those who have literally given their whole lives and freedom to God.
During the 2016 Year of Mercy I was blessed to be taken to Knock by someone who I met on the forum, Dolors. I had a 4 day trip to Dublin and asked her about the best way to get to Knock, and she insisted on taking me herself. The whole experience was such a blessing. We got to attend mass and go confession there, and to get the plenery indulgence from the Holy Door.It was so nice to meet her and get to know her in person. I miss her presence here on the forum.
Hope you have a Blessed and Holy pilgrimage. Please leave my son with the Blessed Mother and Jesus for Them to convert him. He is lost and I haven’t heard from him in months. Lost as far away and addicted. Thank you.
Sigh. Suffering sins of jealousy . Wish I was retired and able to go on pilgrimages Enjoy your time there!
