Apparition: this is what Our Lady said to the "Irish Lourdes"

On the evening of Thursday 21 August 1879, around 19 pm, it rains heavily and a strong wind blows. Maria Mc Loughlin, servant of the parish priest Don Bartolomeo Cavanagh and two other girls find themselves rushing past the church. In the meantime a lightning flash illuminates three figures in the darkness. Because of the rain, women are not sure if they are the statues bought by the parish priest or something else. They talk about it with others and immediately about fifteen people of different ages come to the scene. Suddenly a diaphanous light is shown to them in the darkness of the rainy evening in which all those present clearly see a supernatural scene, raised about 30 cm on the grass of the ground, represented by three figures and an altar. Majestic and in an advanced position with respect to the others, the figure of the Holy Virgin stands out: she has a white robe and keeps her hands raised and her palms placed one in front of the other, like a priest during Holy Mass. Our Lady keeps her eyes turned to heaven in deep contemplation. On his right is Saint Joseph with his hands folded in prayer, on the left instead Saint John the Evangelist in white pontifical dress. Giovanni carries an open book in his left hand, while his right is raised. The apparition also shows an altar with the divine Lamb on it and a bare cross. The altar is illuminated by thunderstorm flashes and a soft diaphanous light, while some Angels hover around it. The vision is silent, but complex and very eloquent. The Blessed Virgin, in the center shows herself upright in her majesty, absorbing all that surrounds her. The apparition is immediately interpreted as a heavenly sign of appeal to all Christians to remain faithful to the Catholic Church, especially to the Marian Eucharistic cult. Everyone kneels devoutly, attracted by that wonderful vision of splendor. The visionaries exchange impressions on those figures and the symbolism they represent and, despite the diversity of age and education, they agree in recognizing Mrs. Maria SS .; in the man on the right Saint Joseph, his husband; in the left man Saint John the Evangelist, protector of the Virgin from the death of Jesus; the altar and the cross depict the Eucharist; the lamb represents Jesus the Redeemer. At about 21 pm the apparition vanishes never to repeat itself; it lasted two hours. All the people who had been blessed with such magnificence remained absorbed and astonished in the days that followed, nobody spoke of it for fear of dispersing such a spiritual gift with words. The parish priest denied having been part of this group.

Following the thorough investigations of the competent bishop, the authenticity of the apparition was declared and ecclesiastical recognition was granted. Knock Mhuire, also called the "Irish Lourdes" has become one of the most important sanctuaries in Europe where Mary is revered as "Queen of Ireland" and many healings and conversions have been attested. In 1954, a Marian year for the whole Catholic world, on December 1th, the Madonna of Knock was crowned by concession of the Vatican Chapter with the rite followed by Pius XII in crowning the painting Our Lady Salus Populi Romani, in Rome, on November 8st.