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The Apparitions and Miracles at Knock; also, the Official Depositions of the Eye-witnesses

M.H. Gill & Son (1880), via Internet Archive · 1880 · 90 pages · text from the file's own layer

This book was prepared and edited by John MacPhilpin of Tuam and published in Dublin by M. H. Gill & Son in 1880. It reprints Tuam News reports on the apparition of the Blessed Virgin, St. Joseph and St. John the Evangelist, which about twenty people saw on the south gable of Knock chapel, County Mayo, on 21 August 1879. It also gives the witnesses' official depositions, which a commission of priests appointed by the Archbishop of Tuam judged trustworthy. It lists cures recorded in Archdeacon Cavanagh's diary.

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law of radiation from reflected light could the images be
thrown naturally or artificially from the clouds. Add to that
the great fact, that at the time the Blessed Virgin appeared
it was pouring rain in torrents, and the drizzling fall continued
the whole time and late onwards through the night. The
whole of that day had been one dreary, dismal downpour,
from early dawn to the dusky hours of sun-down. We give
the following quotation from what we have already written
on the subject :—
First account ofthe Apparition from "Tuam News," fanuary gth.
" All that may be said in the following lines is an expres
sion of the feelings of the people, and does not pretend
to anticipate the judgment which the ecclesiastical superiors
may express upon the facts, of which they are already cognisant.
The chapel of Knock, at which the apparitions have occurred,
is about five miles from Claremorris, and its gilt cross which
surmounts the lofty tower can be seen for miles around.
The priest who so worthily presides over the parish is the
venerable archdeacon of the diocese—the Very Rev. Bar
tholomew Cavanagh. The chapel is of cruciform shape.
The sacristy occupies the upper and smaller shaft, and is
immediately behind the high altar. In the gable of the
sacristy there is a Gothic window, about five feet by two
broad ; its lowest part is about twelve feet from the ground.
The remainder of the gable is plain, and covered outside
by a good substantial coating of cement to protect the
wall from the rains, which beat with greatviolence, especially
upon that side. On this gable wall of the sacristy were seen
the extraordinary lights, in the midst of which the Blessed
Virgin, accompanied by St. Joseph and St. John the Evan
gelist, appeared. On Thursday, the 21st of August last, the
eve of the octave day of the Assumption of the Blessed

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