Over 10,000 people flock to see St Bernadette's relics in Mayo

AN estimated crowd of 10,000 people filed past the relics of St Bernadette in Knock Basilica on Sunday last. It was the single biggest daily crowd of the year at Knock Shrine in 2024.

Around 1,500 people were already in the Basilica when Fr Richard Gibbons presided at the welcome ceremony for the St Bernadette Relic Pilgrimage to Knock and celebrated the midday Mass.

Bishop Paul Connell of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise was the chief celebrant at the 3pm Mass. Veneration of the relics took place until 6pm reflecting the huge respect in which St Bernadette is held in the hearts of countless thousands of people around the world.  

The Knock Order of Malta Ambulance Corps provided cover service to the day and once again excelled in their renowned outreach to all pilgrims to Knock Shrine. Despite the very large attendance on the day, just three people needed minor attention from the Order of Malta team on duty.

Locals commented that it was like old times in the village with cars and buses parked along the approach roads, especially on the Ballyhaunis road and up as far as Kilkenny’s pub on the old Claremorris road.

The strong bonds between Ireland and Lourdes clearly played a central role in the appeal of St Bernadette who was canonised by Pope Pius XI on December 8, 1933, in Rome. Bernadette Soubirous was born on January 7, 1844, in Lourdes at the foothills of the Pyrenees Mountains. Our Lady is said to have appeared 18 times to Bernadette in 1858 at the Grotto of Massabielle in Lourdes when she was 14 years old. Bernadette died at the age of 35 on April 16, 1879, in Nevers, France.