Pilgrims make their way to Knock in Mayo a holy place for many who come to pray for cures and the granting of favours.
Knock has been a holy place since 1879 when 20 men women and children saw an apparition of the Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph and Saint John the Evangelist at the gable end of the church.
The healthy, the hopeful, the sick, the infirm.
Since then, many people have visited Knock every Sunday from May to September, to pray for cures, causes and intercession.
Knock, an otherwise obscure and undistinguished place is highly organised to deal with such a display of faith.
A pilgrim with a bad chest is hopeful of a cure, but he will not be disappointed if it does not happen and it will not put him off returning to Knock again. A woman with tuberculosis previously visited Knock with her mother but is now visiting because
I hope please God it might make me better.
While hoping for an instant cure she will not be too disappointed if it does not come about.
A simple faith brings pilgrims to Knock, a belief,
That Knock can work miracles.
Many people make return visits to Knock, and say they have received all sorts of inexplicable cures. These cures are listed in the Knock Annual, a publication by the Knock Society, but it is made clear that none of them have been officially recognised as miracles by the church at Knock.
The Annual refers to these things merely as favours granted.
A ‘Newsbeat’ report broadcast on 28 May 1968. The reporter is Cathal O’Shannon.
