Large crowds gathered at Knock, Co Mayo, over the weekend at the beginning of an eight-day novena, with some walking up to 20 miles to attend the annual ceremonies.
The theme of this year's novena is "The Knock Story and Message, 1879-2004".
Calling for increased devotion to Mary, the Bishop of Raphoe, the Most Rev Philip Boyce, suggested to pilgrims that there was no better way of preparing for the hoped for return visit of Pope John Paul than by amending their lives and returning to prayer.
He quoted from the Pope's words at Knock 25 years ago, when he called on Irish people to "keep faithful in prosperity to the faith our ancestors would not surrender in times of poverty and persecution".
Bishop Boyce called on parents to teach children from an early age to dedicate themselves to Mary and called for greater attention to saying the Angelus at the stated times every day. "She is the great example of goodness and purity and goodness in a world of impurity and greed," Dr Boyce stated.
Another member of the hierarchy, the Bishop of Elphin, the Most Rev Christopher Jones, said the Assumption confirms the teaching of the Church on the dignity and destiny of every human person; the teaching that was at the heart of the Christian response to the evils of euthanasia, abortion, war, murder and violence of all forms.
Although the Traveller community was well-represented at yesterday's ceremonies, the expected arrival of Traveller caravans into local car-parks did not materialise.
The fact that no women have been included in the roster of novena speakers over the eight-day period was noted by some women over the weekend.
However, the Archdiocese of Tuam denied any suggestion that there is a policy in place to deny women a speaking role at the novena, pointing out that President Mary McAleese was a guest orator on a previous occasion.
The Archbishop of Tuam, the Most Rev Michael Neary, is in Lourdes on pilgrimage at the present time, but his secretary, Father Brendan Kilcoyne, said there was a provision in canon law for women to speak at novenas from time to time.
"It may have been difficult to get suitable female speakers this year," Father Kilcoyne said.
"There is no policy to debar women speakers. I know there have been women speakers in the past, including President McAleese."