Mary's Hill

In our life there are encounters with heaven that occur from which the light of grace shines forth that make manifest and clarifies the love of God for us.  Such an encounter happened on August 21, 1879 in the village of Knock situated in County Mayo of Western Ireland. Knock is the English version of the Irish word, cnoc, meaning “hill.”  Because of the encounter in that place, it would come to be known as Cnoc Mhuire or “Mary’s Hill.” For on that day in August towards the end of evening about 8 o’clock, Our Lady, Saint Joseph and Saint John the Evangelist appeared with an altar on which stood the Lamb of God in the background  Behind the altar was a large high cross with angels hovering around it.  This amazing vision took place at the outside wall of the parish church at the very spot where on the inside of the church wall stood the high altar where Mass was celebrated.  
 
The figures in this apparition were bathed in splendid light and were most life-like. Our Lady was described as possessing incomparable beauty. On that very rainy night, the area where the figures appeared remained perfectly dry.
 
Not one word was spoken by Our Lady or her retinue for the two hours they remained there glowing with hope and love. No word was necessary for for the fifteen people, ages 5 years to 75 years, who gathered praying the rosary. They knew exactly what this heavenly message meant. These faithful men, women and children represented the Irish people who had known persecution for the Catholic Faith, poverty, famine, and privation of the Sacraments of the Church for over 250 years. At a time when the difficulties of poverty and famine still weighed upon them, heaven visited them, the Mother of God came to her children with Saint Joseph who provided the Holy Family of Nazareth a home, and Saint John who stood with her at her Son’s Cross.  Our Holy Mother at prayer pointed to her Divine Son, the Lamb of God, and manifested the way to Him.  She emphasized for them the absolute importance of the Mass where the greatest encounter with Christ happens each day on the altars of our churches.  
 
On Mary’s Hill in Ireland and every place where we meet her, she leads us to the altar where her Son’s Eucharistic Sacrifice is offered and where we are fed with the Body and Blood of the Lamb of God at His Paschal Banquet. For there we encounter the open Heart of Jesus where we find grace, mercy and love as we journey through this life. The coming of Our Lady to Knock 146 years ago fulfilled what the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council proclaimed of her, “Mary…summons the faithful to her Son, to his sacrifice and to the Father’s love. “(Lumen Gentium, #65)
            
We see, dear friends, that the Hill of Calvary made present at Mass is really Cnoc Mhuire – Mary’s Hill - for there she stands and welcomes us into the presence of her Son!
 
Most Reverend William Waltersheid
Auxiliary Bishop of Pittsburgh