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Top bishop tells Irish Catholics to stay away from Knock visions

Bishop says he's against people 'going off to Knock expecting strange visions'

By
ANTOINETTE KELLY,
Irish Central.com

Published Wednesday, November 4, 2009, 12:55 PM
Updated Wednesday, November 4, 2009, 1:39 PM

 

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Pilgrims: Crowds gather at Knock Marian Shrine in Mayo to see if Virgin Mary will appear
Pilgrims: Crowds gather at Knock Marian Shrine in Mayo to see if Virgin Mary will appear

A senior Irish bishop has urged Irish Catholics to stay away from the next predicted apparition of the Virgin Mary at the holy shrine in Knock.

The Bishop of Killaloe, Dr Willie Walsh, appealed for people to stay away from the Marian Shrine on December 5 when Our Lady is predicted to appear.

Walsh said he did not want to see massive crowds converging on Knock in search of "strange visions."

He was responding to an announcement by the Dublin visionaries Joe Coleman and Keith Henderson that there would be an apparition by Our Lady on Saturday, December 5, at 3 p.m.

Walsh is the first member of the Catholic hierarchy to support the Archbishop of Tuam, Michael Neary, who says the Mary predictions are misleading and could ruin the reputation of the Marian Shrine.

More than 15,000 pilgrims descended on Knock last Sunday to see the apparition setting off a stampede after some people claimed they could see Mary in the "dancing sun."

Now, Walsh says he's worried that even more people are going to show up for the next "event."

"I'm not going to say to people that they shouldn't go to Knock. Knock is a place of prayer, but I would discourage the idea of going off to Knock expecting strange visions," he said.

"I would certainly discourage that in every way".

"It doesn't make sense to me that Our Lady, in some way, would tell someone 'I'll see you in Knock on the 5th of December'," he said.

"That goes away from the rational."

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4 Comments

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Posted by ciarrai on Nov 06, 2009, 06:20 PM EST
I'll bet the b&b's, restaurant, carhires, stores, etc. are looking forward with great hope to Dec. 5. Don't blow it, Bishop. BTW, the wife and I popped into Knock this past April on our way from Kerry to Mayo and we were surprised the way the holy water is splashed about. Back here in the States it was regarded as sacred stuff and we saw it splashed on faces, drunk and it seemed to be regarded a little less seriously than it was in my childhood. What's up wit dat?
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Posted by Portia777 on Nov 06, 2009, 11:50 AM EST
Why does this patriarch not mind his own business.? We can think for ourselves these days and are no longer sheep going Yes, Father, whatever you say Father. Now is the time for the Mother and real LOVE. The boys in frocks are scared of the truth coming out re what they have done- and of course the Mother Lady is angry, and rightly so. Just wait until the other sheep wake up from their deep sleep.
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Posted by MMLeprechaun on Nov 06, 2009, 11:32 AM EST
It never hurts to listen to one's Bishop because if he is wrong, then Our Lord & His Mother will straighten him out and you will be the winner for having been obedient. We have much of this in the US and all it ends up doing is detracting from the peace & harmony of the original purpose of an approved Shrine/location. Sounds like the 2 gentlemen in question might be publicity seekers and even have an ulterior motive? Pray for them.
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Posted by kmprkvn on Nov 05, 2009, 12:55 AM EST
Faith experiences are not always rational. Sometimes, but not always.
 


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