THE ANNUAL NATIONAL PUBLIC NOVENA IN KNOCK WAS OPENED YESTERDAY BY THE PARISH PRIEST OF KNOCK MONSIGNOR JOE QUINN AND WAS ATTENDED BY UP TO 6,000 PILGRIMS. THIS YEAR’S NOVENA IS DEDICATED TO MONSIGNOR JAMES HORAN, BORN A CENTURY AGO.

THE FIRST MASS YESTERDAY WAS CELEBRATED BY BISHOP MICHAEL SMITH OF MEATH, WHO ASKED FOR PRAYERS FOR  “THE VICTIMS OF ABUSE AND THEIR FAMILIES”.

RECALLING THE FIRST APPARITION AT KNOCK ON AUGUST 21ST, 1879, WHEN A DOZEN PEOPLE SAW A BRIGHT SILVERY-WHITE LIGHT ON THE GABLE OF THE LOCAL CATHOLIC CHURCH, DR SMITH SPOKE OF KNOCK’S “SILENCE”, WHICH HELPED TO “TRANSCEND THE DEMANDS, PAIN AND SORROW OF LIFE”.

THE GLENSTAL ABBOT, THE RT REV MARK P HEDERMAN, IS DUE TO SPEAK TODAY AND TODAY IS TRADITIONALLY ALWAYS A BIG DAY IN KNOCK, THE 15^TH AUGUST  - THE FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION.

 OTHER SPEAKERS AT THIS YEAR’S NOVENA INCLUDE JOURNALIST MARY KENNY TOMORROW, AND IRISH TIMES COLUMNIST JOHN WATERS ON WEDNESDAY.