Faith still alive at Knock Shrine

KEEPERS OF THE FAITH?Thousands took part in a late night Novena at Knock Shrine last week.?Pic: Michael McLaughlin

Faith still well alive in Knock


Huge crowds turned out for the national Novena

Willie McHugh

LONG gone are the gimmick days visited on Knock Shrine by visionaries claiming to have tidings of a signal from afar.
Knock has returned to the serenity and worship long associated with this holy place. The faith and beliefs of the pilgrims who visited the East Mayo village for the national Novena to Our Lady of Knock are far more deep-rooted than a sight of the sun dancing in a Mayo sky.
They make this Novena their annual visit to a place where they find a richer meaning in. All this week the Mayo village was jam-packed with visitors arriving for the afternoon and evening ceremonies taking place in the Basilica.
Every available parking space was snapped up hours beforehand as the venue filled to overflowing.
August 15, the Feast of the Assumption, and August the 21, Feast of Our Lady of Knock, are generally regarded as the two important days in the week-long Novena. But seasoned observers claim the biggest attendance by far was on Wednesday afternoon last, and they cite the appearance of guest speaker, Elma Walsh, as the main reason for this larger than normal influx.
Elma is mother of the late Donal Walsh, the young man from Kerry who captured the nation’s attention when he appeared on national television last year. Donal was terminally ill and his pleading message was directed at people to appreciate and value the gift of life.
In Knock on Wednesday, Elma Walsh encouraged parents to talk to their children about spiritual matters.
“We really owe it to our children to advise them of the many empty churches of every denomination in every parish in Ireland. To go in there for five minutes, light a candle and shut the world out. For only five minutes can make such a difference to a child’s, or anyone’s day,” was part of the message she conveyed to a captive congregation. Elma proved an ideal speaker on a topic she has personal experience of.  
She now shares her son’s message with others through simple homilies she delivers countrywide.
Dotted around the Basilica were stewards recognisable only by their sage-tinted tweed sashes.
They come there to give of their assistance on a voluntarily basis. They expect no reward or recognition. Shy, unassuming men as best epitomised by Eamon from Belcarra. He wasn’t forthcoming with his surname but, “they tell me they called me Eamon after [Eamon] De Valera,” he jokingly remarked.
Remarkable thing is, he bears an uncanny resemblance to the elder statesman.
“I started coming here as a volunteer steward about ten years ago,” he said.
“A few lads who were doing it asked me and after a while I agreed. I usually do the fourth Sunday of every month and one day at the Novena. I enjoy doing it and love being able to assist people. All human life comes here and you meet all sorts. The stewards are mostly in the older age bracket but that’s understandable too.
“We’re the ones with a bit of time on our hands while young people are busy with other things like rearing families and so forth,” he continued. “ And of course their spare time is taken up going to matches every Sunday and especially nowadays with Mayo going so well.”
Off Knock’s main thoroughfare is a little mall of souvenir and coffee shops. But the marketing side of religion felt the effect of the recession also. Some of them are already boarded up and no longer trading. But for those still open, business is brisk as this is probably their busiest week.
There’s a good run on plastic containers for the fetching of Knock Holy Water. Down by the wall there’s a queue at the holy water spigots as every available vessel is filled to the brim.
Knock is about the real worshippers now and they are the ones who keep coming back. They don’t need the false promise of another apparition. The appearance they believe in took place many moons ago and only a handful around to witness it.
Their story spread far and wide.