Catholic Church recognises Athlone woman's 'healing' in Knock

The Catholic Church has formally recognised that an Athlone woman was cured at Knock over 30 years ago.

Carton Drive resident Marion Carroll has told of how she was paralysed with the MS in September 1989 and was bound to a stretcher during her visit to Knock.

She said she was miraculously healed after receiving Holy Communion at the shrine.

Sunday's announcement is the culmination of decades of campaigning by the Athlone grandmother for recognition of what happened to her. 

Spreaking to the congregation in Knock on Sunday, which included Marion, her husband Jimmy and family, Archbishop Michael Neary said: “Thirty years ago on the occasion of this pilgrimage, Marion was healed here at Our Lady’s Shrine. Today the Church formally acknowledges that this healing does not admit of any medical explanation and joins in prayer, praise and thanksgiving to God.

“In these situations the Church must always be very cautious. This is illustrated by the fact that thirty years have elapsed since this took place, during which time the examination by the Medical Bureau testifies that there is no medical explanation for this healing”.

The Athlone woman told RTE News: “I went down completely paralysed, incontinent, I couldn't see right, I couldn't eat right. The muscles were affected, the brain was affected, and I couldn't remember things.

“I went over to the Basilica at 2.30 for the anointing of the sick and blessing of the sick. After that I was completely cured.”

Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois, Francis Duffy noted that 30 years to the day on this pilgrimage, also on on the first Sunday in 1989, “Marion Carroll was healed. She came here with a bleak future. Many people have attested to the dramatic change that came about on Marion here and on her return to Athlone,” he said.

For more on this story, see Wednesday's edition of the Westmeath Independent.