Knock, Knock!

I took an overnight trip to Knock, Co. Mayo, where an apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary took place in 1879. Also seen with Mary were St. Joseph (which surprised me because, I don't know, does he make appearances on the reg?), St. John the Evangelist, and an altar with a cross and lamb atop.

15 people, ages 6-70something, saw this apparition

They have quite a complex there at the Shrine of Our Lady of Knock. They have an outdoor Stations of the Cross area. The big shrine is pretty new and has seating for 5000 pilgrims.

This painting is on the wall in the big shrine.

There is a separate Blessed Sacrament chapel on the grounds next to the book shop and the information building. They have a counseling center located next to the Chapel of Reconciliation, which conveniently, has a Holy Door attached to it this year for the Year of Mercy. Yes, I got to confess here.

The parish church in Knock where the apparition occurred was dedicated to St. John the Baptist, and I thought this was a lovely depiction of the Baptism of Jesus.

This is the older shrine, attached to the parish church, but obviously redone.

 Pope Saint John Paul II visited the Shrine in 1979, and Saint Teresa of Culcutta prayed here in 1993.

Mary appeared to have a golden rose on her forehead, which is why Pope St. JPII gifted this piece to the shrine when he visited for the centennial. 

Eyewitnesses to the apparition prayed the Rosary throughout its duration.

Original piece of the gable, which remained dry during the two hours of rain while the apparition was taking place, according to the eyewitnesses

I had never been to the site of an apparition before, so I'm not sure what's typical. This was quite a place of simplicity, peace, and hope, and I recommend it to anyone who is seeking those things.