Shrine of Our Lady of Knock

This apparition was different from most of the Marian apparitions in recent centuries in that no words were spoken and everyone present was able to see the Virgin. The site was the humble town of Knock, Ireland (Cnoc is Gaelic for "hill"). On a stormy August 21, 1879, the Blessed Virgin, St Joseph, and St John the Evangelist appeared in a blaze of heavenly light at the south gable of the Church of St John the Baptist. Behind them and a little to the left of St John was a plain altar. Despite the heavy rain, the figures remained entirely dry. A lamb was resting on the altar surrounded by golden stars or small brilliant lights. The witnesses included three men, six women, two teenage boys and a girl, and two children. The poor humble witnesses distinctly beheld the Blessed Virgin Mary clothed in a large white cloak, hanging in full folds and somewhat loosely around her shoulders and fastened to the neck; she wore a rather large crown on her head. She stood erect in an attitude of prayer with her eyes and hands raised to heaven. St Joseph stood on Our Lady's right. He was turned towards her as if paying her respect. His robes were also white. St John was on Our Lady's left. He was dressed in white vestments and resembled a bishop. He appeared to be preaching and held an open book in his left hand. The witnesses watched the apparition in pouring rain for two hours, reciting the Rosary. Shortly after the apparition, two blind men regained their sight. Knock soon became one of the most frequented centers of pilgrimage in Ireland. Over three hundred miraculous cures have been reported there and at least a million pilgrims now visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Knock each year.