The Mayo News

Michael Commins was among the large crowd who flocked to Knock last weekend hoping to see something special Many claim to see ‘sun dance’ at Knock


Michael Commins was among the large crowd who flocked to Knock last weekend hoping to see something special

Michael Commins

For many in the thousands of people who gathered at Knock Shrine on Sunday, the moment they had been waiting for took place at 3.17pm. Prior to this, many had focussed their attention on the Shrine Chapel where Dublin faith healer Joe Coleman was deep in prayer. He had predicted last week that something of a major spiritual nature would happen in Knock on this day.
From 1.30pm onwards, the sky had featured a various amount of cloud cover as well as bright blue spells. The wind was from the north west.
As 3pm approached, many were checking their watches. Tones of Ave Maria and other hymns rose at intervals from the congregation. Shortly after 3.14pm, Joe Coleman emerged carrying a small crucifix of Christ, embedded with roses, and came through the tightly packed crowd. Many people reached out to touch the cross. He proceeded a little to the south of the chapel and soon afterwards urged people to look at the sun.
There were gasps of awe and joy as the sun burst through the clouds and the majority of those present believed they witnessed a heavenly scene. Many found it relatively easy to look straight at the sun which appeared to be shimmering and ‘dancing’ in the sky. Prayers rose from the crowd, Hail Marys were recited with fervour, and ripples of applause burst fourth in unison as, obviously, many people saw the same movements and motion of the life-giving sun at the same time. Many also spoke of the ‘golden haze’ that descended on those in the processional square.
Standing beside some people from the parish of Knock, we witnessed something that we had never seen before. Whatever it was, and whatever the explanation, scientific or spiritual, it was spectacular and unforgettable.
Tears rolled down many cheeks, people gasped in wonder, at the display of the sun. A small number claimed to have witnessed the host in the sun, several said they saw rays associated with many Biblical visions emanating from the sun, while a handful said they saw the Virgin Mary. “Isn’t she beautiful, so beautiful,” said one young lady in a trance-like pose, kneeling on the ground and fervently praying the rosary with two friends.
The ‘sun dance’ lasted for seven minutes until 3.24pm. Several were clearly ecstatic and touched by seeing something they had never witnessed before. And there was an extraordinary sense of being present on a very special day in Knock.
What people did see in Knock on Sunday is remarkably akin to “The Miracle of the Sun” which happened in Fatima, Portugal, on October 13, 1917. Some reports from Portuguese newspapers of the time said the strange occurrence was witnessed by up to 70,000 people on that day.
According to the newspaper Seculo, "the sun trembled, made sudden incredible movements outside all cosmic law - the sun danced."
One close local observer of the Knock scene said there were two kinds of pilgrims and visitors in Knock on Sunday. “There were those who came hoping to see something and those who have always come to Knock regardless. There were around 6,000 people at the Dominican Pilgrimage in the Basilica and these people did not leave the Basilica to go outside. The other thousands congregated outside the Shrine Chapel and filled the processional square. I didn’t see anything myself at all. But I met loads who claimed they did. Everyone has their own beliefs.
“I will admit that there was huge pressure on the confessional chapel all evening. Many went who had not been to the sacrament in years. It certainly puts a new focus on Knock again.”
Whatever did or did not happen, clearly the events of the day impacted on a lot of people. Despite the large crowds, everything fell into place nicely and there was an extraordinary atmosphere to the whole afternoon. As one young person said to me: “They came from all over today and I’ve never seen so many happy people leaving Knock.”

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