1879: Religious Apparitions of Jesus Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary, Angels, and Saints in Knock, Ireland

This day in 1879 marked the apparitions of Jesus Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary, angels, and saints in Knock, Ireland.

For example, the Lourdes apparitions occurred in 1858, and the Fatima apparitions in 1917. Therefore, the Knock apparitions occurred roughly between these famous apparitions.

The small town of Knock is located in County Mayo in the west of Ireland, about forty kilometers from the coast of the Atlantic Ocean.

On the evening of this day, 21 August, a total of 15 people experienced apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph and St. John the Evangelist. They also saw Jesus Christ – the Lamb, the altar, the cross, and angels. The apparition occurred near the wall of the local parish church of St. John Baptist in Knock.

The apparition lasted for quite a while, and remained visible even after the sunset. Those who saw the apparition were praying the Rosary for almost two hours at the parish church of St. John Baptist.

According to witnesses, the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph were dressed in long white clothes, and St. John the Evangelist wore a miter. The Blessed Virgin Mary wore a crown, and looked very beautiful.

Among the 15 people who saw he apparitions were: Bridget Trench (the oldest person, 74 years old at the time), and the 5-year-old John Curry (the youngest person), five men and women in their twenties, some were in their thirties, and some in their forties.

The Catholic Church conducted an investigation, and concluded that the witnesses’ testimonies were credible.

Knock became known as important Catholic pilgrimage place, and many miracles occurred there.

It is interesting to note that Pope John Paul II visited the shrine in 1979, when the 100th anniversary of the apparitions was celebrated. The Blessed Mother Teresa visited the shrine in 1993.