August 20, Day Four, Our Lady of Knock

In 1989, Marion Carroll, a young mother in her 30’s, was brought to the Knock Shrine in Ireland, on a stretcher, suffering from Multiple Sclerosis for 17 years, along with other symptoms she describes: "I was completely paralyzed; I was doubly incontinent; I was blind in one eye and had very little sight in the other eye. I couldn't eat right; I couldn't talk right and I had epilepsy. My kidneys were breaking down and had constant kidney infections. That was the state I went into the basilica in. I thought I was dying.” She pleaded with the Blessed Mother for a healing.

She was healed during the blessing of the sick when Bishop Colm O’Reilly blessed her with the monstrance. Marion stated: "It was when my bishop came down with the blessed Eucharist in the monstrance for the blessing of the sick. He held it up and blessed me and I got this beautiful feeling - it was a magnificent feeling - and then the whispering breeze telling me that if the stretcher was opened that I could get up and walk. The only way I could describe it is like a whispering breeze. If I could paint it, it would be like a meadow with soft grass blowing gently in the breeze and there is a tree with a very delicate cobweb. It was beautiful." 

After Holy Mass, Marion was taken to St John's Respite and Care Centre in Knock, where she asked the nurse to open her stretcher – then Marion's legs moved and they swung off the stretcher and she stood up. Her voice came back, so did the use of her arms and legs. She was miraculously healed. 

In 2019, Archbishop Michael Neary of Tuam, announced that the Church had confirmed Marion Carroll’s miracle. It took 30 years for the Medical Bureau to determine that there was no medical explanation for the cure because a formal diagnosis of her condition had not been made. 

Let’s keep praying and pleading to the Blessed Mother for a miracle in own lives. May Our Lady bestow many graces upon our beloved Cardinal Burke.

Give praise to the Father Almighty, To His Son, Jesus Christ the Lord, To the Spirit who lives in our hearts, Both now and forever Amen.

Our Lady of Knock, Queen of Ireland, you gave hope to your people in a time of distress, and comforted them in sorrow. You have inspired countless pilgrims to pray with confidence to your divine Son, remembering His promise, "Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find."

Help me to remember that we are all pilgrims on the road to heaven. Fill me with love and concern for my brothers and sisters in Christ, especially those who live with me. Comfort me when I am sick, lonely or depressed. Teach me how to take part ever more reverently in the Holy Mass. Give me a greater love of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Pray for me now, and at the hour of my death. Amen.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world; Have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world; Have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world; Grant us peace.

St. Joseph, chosen by God to be the Husband of Mary, the Protector of the Holy Family, the Guardian of the Church, protect all families in their work and recreation and guard us on our journey through life.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world; Have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world; Have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world; Grant us peace.

St John, beloved disciple of the Lord, faithful priest, teacher of the Word of God. Help us to hunger for the Word, be loyal to the Mass and to love one another.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world; Have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world; Have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world; Grant us peace.

(Now mention your own special intentions and pray especially that Cardinal Burke will receive an abundance of grace.)

With the Angels and Saints let us pray: Give praise to the Father Almighty, to His Son, Jesus Christ the Lord, to the Spirit who lives in our hearts, both now and forever. Amen.