Lighting a candle at knock now only a click of a mouse away

Devout pilgrims once tramped dozens of miles just to light a candle at Knock Shrine – now igniting a ‘holy flame’ is just a few clicks of a mouse away, writes Tom Shiel.

Shrine authorities are about to launch a modernised and comprehensive new website whose many features will include an online virtual prayer candle service.

One large candle will burn in the Shrine of the Apparition to symbolise and commemorate all of the virtual candles requested online daily.

Instead of pennies, as in olden days, the online pilgrims will pay for their candles by using a credit or debit card.

The service is proving popular, along with other online facilities provided by the shrine such as purchasing Mass cards without the necessity of meeting a priest, and submitting a petition, such as prayers for the recovery of an ill person.

All funds raised by the new online services will go towards maintaining Knock Shrine for all visting pilgrims. The shrine is undergoing an extensive and expensive revamp at the moment. This includes the refurbishment and improvement of the Basilica.

An extensive library of photos relating to the shrine, past and present, is available on the website, which will be officially launched on Saturday.