and help, - accepting his love and sharing it quietly in our daily living it in a way that is often beyond words.
Beyond Words by Fr Denis C Hartnett, MHM
Saint Joseph, our Mill Hill patron, was also present in the Knock Apparition. We could say that he is the first witness to mission and ministry beyond words. There is not a single word recorded in the Gospels of what he said, but he was open to the guidance of the Spirit; this enabled him to undertake his mission beyond words. Saint Joseph listened to the Spirit and was guided by the Spirit. He was and is the example of love and service, two realities that stand beyond words, as they find their meaning in being love and in being service. Our Mill Hill Missionary motto is “To Love and To Serve” and if we really, really believe this and live this in our daily lives, then we shall participate in mission and ministry beyond words. The Mosaic in the Basilica
Mission and Ministry - Beyond Words I find it fascinating that Mary did not speak at Knock; we could say she ushered in a mission and ministry beyond words. This image led me to focus on ministry beyond words as our ministry here in Knock is largely one of listening, being accessible, as Jesus was, to people who are seeking help spiritually, socially, mentally and emotionally. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is central to our ministry. It is the sacrament of listening, the sacrament of empathy and the sacrament of revealing the love of God. The process of personal outpouring within the confines of the sacrament allows people to begin to glimmer the possibility of peace as they experience the forgiveness and healing love of Christ. As a Mill Hill Missionary, it is a privilege and also a huge responsibility, to accompany Knock Basilica
(Fr Denis is a Mill Hill Missionary who worked for many years in South Sudan and in Northern Uganda. He is now a chaplain at Knock Shrine.) Knock Apparition – Beyond Words Ireland’s national Marian Shrine at Knock is where the apparition of Our Lady took place in 1879. Our Lady appeared with Saint Joseph and Saint John the Evangelist, together with the Lamb on the Altar representing Christ. It is the only major apparition where our Lady did not give a message. When Mary appeared at Knock she did not speak; she did not do anything. She just gave witness by being there for the people of Ireland at an awful time in their history. Mary didn’t say to the people that they must pray more. She didn’t say to the people that they should seek 24
forgiveness for their sins. She encouraged the people of Ireland by being with them. The Apparition at Knock was in silence, an apparition beyond words. Mary spoke through the revelation of God’s love for a downtrodden people. Christ, represented by the Lamb on the Altar, was there with Mary at Knock as a concrete witness to God’s love, the love that led him to lay down his life for us his people. The Lamb symbolises the love and gentleness with which Christ suffered and died for us, so that we can experience forgiveness, healing Autumn 2021
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