A GATHERING of thousands of people in Knock, Co Mayo, on Saturday afternoon to witness a predicted apparition of the Virgin Mary was anything but “holy or reverent”, according to the manager of the shrine, Pat Lavelle.
“People did not behave as they would at normal ceremonies,” Mr Lavelle said yesterday. “Our basilica was left in a terrible state afterwards. It was anything but holy or reverent.
“There was food and drink spilled inside, chairs turned upside-down, the carpets were soiled and even worse than that.”
The men who called people to Knock for the predicted apparition – Joe Coleman and Keith Henderson – claimed yesterday that another apparition would take place in the Knock Basilica on December 5th.
“The Rosary is to be said at 3pm and Mother will make herself known to everybody who comes with an open heart when the Rosary is finished,” according to instructions Mr Henderson said he had received.
Some 10,000 people turned up on Saturday at Knock, despite predictions from Mr Coleman that 50,000 would attend. Mr Lavelle said he would discuss the matter of another gathering at Knock Shrine with the Archbishop of Tuam, Dr Michael Neary, over the coming days.
He said that following the events of Saturday he would certainly have some doubts about such an event taking place in the basilica again.
Mr Lavelle said that despite considerable preparations, there had been some serious safety issues as crowds gathered at the shrine, and safety procedures for future gatherings there would have to be reviewed.
“Ultimately Joe Coleman can announce these events, but we here in Knock are the ones who have to manage them,” he said.
Mr Coleman, from Ballyfermot in Dublin, yesterday revealed the message he claims to have received from the Virgin Mary on Saturday, which he said she had asked him not to relay immediately.
“Thank you for responding to my call. I am so happy. I smile on this day, 31st October 2009, at my beloved Knock,” Mr Coleman alleges the Blessed Virgin Mary told him.
“I wish to thank all the people who came today to pray, to give thanks to my beloved father God the Almighty.
“ . . . I ask for conversion many times. I ask for peace. I ask for prayers every day for my son’s apostles . . . I will visit one day soon on the fifth day of the holy month. Peace be with you, my children.”
Mr Henderson said the message delivered to him was: “I love all my children unconditionally with my immaculate heart, especially all my priests who are not listening to my call. I ask all my children to pray for my priests. Pray. Pray. Pray.”
