Case of Knock miracle to be forwarded to the Vatican

A woman who regained her ability to walk after been paralysed for 10 years could be become the first case of a miracle at Knock Shrine in County Mayo in 131 years.  

Marian Carroll (59) who is a native of Athlone visited the Shrine 21 years ago after suffering with MS for the previous 17 years. 

At the time, she was so ill she couldn't walk, was blind in one eye and was incontinent.  Speaking this week to her local Western People newspaper she recounted the story of, “being brought into the Basilica on a stretcher and just as I was about to receive communion I felt a sharp pain in my heels.”

She subsequently regained her ability to walk and has remained free of the symptoms ever since.

“There is no doubt in my mind that it was a miracle,” she said,

Speaking this week, the manager of Knock Shrine Pat Lavelle said that attempts are now been made to have what happened to Ms Carroll classified as a miracle.  He said that the incident meets two Vatican miracle requirements namely, that the cure was firstly instant and it was total. 

He added, “The only problem however may be that Marian Carroll did not have a full diagnosis of her illness at the time and 21 years ago it took extensive testing before MS could be confirmed whereas nowadays such a diagnosis can be made much quicker.” 

When contacted this week by CiNews the Catholic Communications office confirmed that the case would be forwarded to the Vatican for approval.

by Sean Ryan