Our Lady of Knock & St. Patrick Rosary Bracelet

- Queen of Ireland Chaplet, Prayer Beads -

This Our Lady of Knock rosary bracelet has a color design inspired by Ireland, offering a vibrant combination of green quartzite beads, purple amethyst rounds, and Swarovski emerald and yellow bicone crystals. The quartzite is a beautiful shade of green (added to the natural stone and heat enhanced), reminiscent of the verdant Irish countryside in summer. The amethysts represent the glory of summer heather, and the yellow crystals call to mind the yellow gorse whose hue, a complement of purple, always makes the heather look vibrantly pretty. The emerald crystals are included as an appropriately sparkly symbol of the Emerald Isle.

The holy medal, made in Italy of base metal, is a beautifully detailed two-sided oval. It presents Our Lady of Knock on the front and the patrician figure of St. Patrick on the back. This bracelet is thus a wonderful chaplet for devotion to the saint as well as the Virgin Mary. The holy card shown in my photos is a complimentary item. I bought it at La Salette National Shrine in MA, a sweet place of peace and contemplation.

Also included in these Catholic prayer beads are:
• Small faceted amethyst rounds 
• TierraCast silver-plated daisy spacers
• Sterling silver crimps and wire guards
• A silver tone 1.25-inch extension chain  
• Silver-plated lobster clasp (12mm)  • High-quality 49-strand beading wire
All the above except the amethyst and extension chain were made in the USA. The length of chaplet bracelet is approximately 7.25 inches, not counting the extender chain.
 
An inspirational piece of religious jewelry, this special rosary chaplet would make a perfect gift for anyone who is engaged in Marian devotion and loves Ireland. Vibrant, sparkly, and unique, it was handmade by me with great care, thought, and best wishes for its destined wearer. It comes in a pretty organza bag, wrapped and ready for gifting to someone who will love it—perhaps you!

ABOUT OUR LADY OF KNOCK
Our Lady of Knock is also known as the Queen of Ireland. Both are titles given to the Blessed Virgin Mary in association with her 1879 apparition in the town of Knock, County Mayo, Ireland. The vision occurred on a rainy August evening near the south wall of the town's Catholic church, and was first witnessed by a rectory housekeeper, Mary McLoughlin, and a friend's sister, Mary Byrne. That area of the church grounds, including the wall, glowed with a beautiful light, revealing an apparition of Our Lady, who looked life-sized and was flanked by two smaller visionary figures, St. Joseph and St. John. Mary Byrne hurried home to gather her family and bring them to the site. Other townspeople soon joined them. Travelers at a far distance also noticed the strange light around the church. After three hours or so, the vision and the light slowly disappeared. Unlike many other Marian visitations, such as those in Fatima, this one involved no auditory communication.

The Catholic Church is typically conservative in its confirmation of sacred visions, and in this case, the diocese suggested that a certain Protestant constable had played a joke on them. The people of the Knock refused to accept that theory, though. Soon many others in Ireland heard about the visitation, and the following year, Knock became a pilgrimage site. Two years after that, an archbishop from Toronto visited the site and later claimed that Our Lady of Knock had healed him of an illness. In 1936, Mary Byrne, now age 86, was interviewed by Church representatives. Her experience at Knock had been related to Catholic authorities back in 1879, and now remained exactly the same.

In 1971, the apparition of Knock was approved as "quite probable" by the Church. Although the vision has never been fully confirmed, the church at Knock is a popular draw for Irish believers as well as Catholic visitors to Ireland. My own visit there was a contemplative experience, and that the weather was "soft," with misty rain, seemed quite appropriate. In my listing, I've included a picture I took there, of the new church—Our Lady Queen of Ireland—which was built in 1976 at the visitation site. The statues in in the photo were added to the church in 1994.

ABOUT QUARTZITE
This crystal is traditionally considered a stone of stabilization, especially during times of many changes or great change. It is thought to help still overactivity and calm the mind and body. Such stillness facilitates a clearer perspective on one's life and an inner balance.

ABOUT AMETHYST
Amethyst is considered a stone of protection that deflects negative influences, lowers stress, and calms the mind. It is also seen as a highly spiritual stone that nurtures inner peace and spiritual awareness. Amethyst is the birthstone for February.

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