Thousands of people flocked to Knock Shrine on Sunday October 11 after a Dublin clairvoyant predicted that the Virgin Mary would appear. Some claimed they saw the “sun dancing” or changing colour. However ahead of tomorrow’s (Saturday ) next predicted ‘apparition’, the Archbishop of Tuam Michael Neary has sought to distance the Catholic Church from the event. He said recent events at Knock Shrine, where members of the public believed the Virgin Mary appeared, are to be regretted rather than encouraged.
In a statement the Archbishop said the events of October 11, which saw between 5,000 and 9,000 people attend the holy shrine and which were predicted by Dublin clairvoyant Joe Coleman, obscured the essential message of Knock. He said the apparition of 1879 was “neither sought nor expected by the humble, honest people who were its astonished witnesses. Their faith reveals the patience and humility that characterises true belief. The Shrine of Knock is living witness to that faith.”
According to the Archbishop, “The Shrine of Knock will be best served by retaining its authentic identity.”
However this weekend’s predicted appearance of Our Lady has been the subject of a major gamble over the Bank Holiday weekend with punters placing bets in excess of €2,000 on Mary to make an appearance in the County Mayo town.
This most recent gamble was ignited after Mr Coleman claimed to have received a message directly from Our Lady instructing him that she will appear in Knock this coming Halloween, Saturday October 31 at 2pm.
Mr Coleman sparked a previous gamble on the Virgin Mary to appear in Knock earlier this month but as the alleged apparition was not reported on RTÉ news the bet was deemed a loser, undeterred punters are backing Mary again and Paddy Power will be paying out €4,200 should a sighting occur this Saturday and be reported by the national broadcaster.
Next sighting of the Blessed Virgin
11/10 Knock Shrine
4/1 Kerry town
8/1 Croagh Patrick
8/1 Rathkeale
10/1 Lough Derg
10/1 Glen Columbkille
12/1 Glendalough
12/1 Buncrana, Co Donegal
(Sighting must be reported on RTÉ news that day ).
