Pope Francis recently elevated Knock shrine to international status on 19th March 2021, as attested on the Vatican Website. The shrine focus is on the statues at the parish church gable wall, in Knock, Co. Mayo. These statues reflect a Eucharistic apparition that happened in 1879. We had the Blessed Mother the Ever Virgin Mary appear, with St. Joseph her spouse, together with St. John the Evangelist with his animated preaching appearance, alongside the Lamb of God on the alter glorified.
We recount below one of the central figures behind promoting pilgrims at Knock Shrine; Dame Judy Coyne. We recall to memory, what was written in her book, ”Providence my Guide”. Judy was the youngest of eleven children, born in Claremorris in 1905. She was married in 1924 to Justice Liam Coyne, a judge from Castlebar. In 1929 they both attended a 50th anniversary of the Eucharistic apparition at Knock in Mayo. They were saddened by the fact the shrine did not receive much attention. It seemed like forgotten apparition history, in such a short space of time. The last remaining witnesses where elderly, and it would not be long before no one will be able to recount what they saw.
Judy and Liam, would set out in the 1930s to revive national interest in the shrine. They spent a lifetime working to promote and develop the facilities at Knock. Their initiative was galvanised, after a pilgrimage in Lourdes in 1934. It was at Lourdes, the couple started to consider how they could replicate & elevate the profile of the yet unofficial Knock Shrine. In 1935 they founded Knock Shrine Society, which consisted in handmaid volunteers to help pilgrims during their visit to the sanctuary site. They also promoted literature and helped erect shrine facilities. They ensured any claims of miracles had prior certification of illness from a reputable doctor. Liam & Judy Coyne also considered having the apparition represented by statues at the parish gable wall in Knock. Drawings were drafted according to the clear memory of the chief remaining eye witness to the apparition. From this chief witness, Mary O’Connell, was garnered a post card depiction of the apparition. Mary died in 1937.
Following the untimely death of Judy’s husband in 1953, the project continued under Judy’s guidance. It was not until 1960, before Archbishop Walsh permitted Judy Coyne to plan the erection of statues at the gable wall of the church. With financial support from U.S. Irish emigrants originally from the West, Judy went to Rome to have statues sculpted. The esteemed Roman sculptor, Professor Lorenzi Ferri, was commisioned. He loved the eucharist, and worked hard, showing Mrs. Coyne on two separate occasions, some clay models. But Judy thought them inadequate, and stood her ground. They did not portray Our Lady’s rapt expression during the apparition as described by the late Mrs. O’Connell. The Professor Ferri became a little exasperated, he began to doubt he could finish the job to her satisfaction. He suffered sudden illness and was admitted to hospital and the sculpture work ceased. Judy now wondered how many months would she be in Rome as she was well over her planned time frame visit. She feared that she might be returning home without any progress. This troubled Irish lady was then invited by the Srs she was residing with in Rome, to go on a pilgrim trip, to a known sanctuary, connected with Padre Pio. There, Judy Coyne prayed fervently during Mass that the statues would be completed. Some days later she visited Professor’s Ferri’s studio, and was astonished to find the statues completed in white Carrara marble and that of Our Lady looking exactly as Judy wanted it. Professor Ferri explained how during the time Mrs Coyne was on pilgrimage, he felt this energy, and urge to leave his bed and finish the statues. He achieved the sculpturing in three hours. This was a complete miracle.
It took many more years before the statues were erected at the apparition gable wall of the church. This was due to a dockers strike in Dublin, as well as misunderstanding regarding interpretations of some documents on statues from Vatican Council II. Finally, Pope John Paul II blessed the statues at the Apparition Chapel on his visit to Knock Shrine in September 1979. Judy Coyne was honoured by the Vatican with the Dame of the Order of St Sylvester award in 1997.
Dame Judy Coyne passed away in 2002 aged 97. She is a testament that abundant good fruits come with long service, perseverance and endurance. But most of all, her trust in the providence of God. Pope Francis elevation of Knock shrine means that we now celebrated Knock Shrine a little later in August. Our Lady of Knock is still celebrated nationally in Ireland on the 17th August, being a custom held for so long.
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