OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM PATRICK HILL- VISIONARY FROM KNOCK

Patrick Hill was the first of the fifteen witnesses to give his deposition before the official Commission which was set up by the Archbishop of Tuam six weeks after the Apparition.

"I remember the 21st August last - 1879- on that day I was drawing home turf from the bog, on an ass. While at my aunt's at eight o'clock in the evening, Dominic Beirne came into the house and cried beautiful vision that are to be seen there! I followed him; another man by name of Dominic Beirne (senior) and John Durcan and a small boy John Curry, came with me.

We ran over towards the chapel and when the gable came into view, we immediately saw the lights; a clear white light covering most of the gable, from the ground to the window and higher. It was a kind of changing bright light, going sometimes up high and again not so high. We saw figures - the Blessed Virgin, St Joseph and St John and an altar with a lamb on the altar, and a cross behind the lamb. I went up closer; I saw everything distinctly.

The figures were full and round as if they had a body and life; they said nothing, but as we approached they seemed to go back a little towards the gable. I distinctly beheld the Blessed Virgin Mary, life size, standing about two feet above the ground, clothed in white robes which were fastened at the neck, her hands were raised to the height of the shoulders, as if in prayer, with the palms facing one another, but slanting inwards towards the face.

Her eyes were turned towards heaven. She wore a brilliant crown on her head, and over the forehead where the crown fitted the brow. A beautiful rose. I saw her move, but she did not speak. One old woman went up and embraced the Virgin's feet, and she found nothing in her arms or hands, they receded, she said, from her. I saw St Joseph to the Blessed Virgin's right hand; his head was bent, from the shoulder forward, he appeared to be paying his respects. I noticed his whiskers, they appeared slightly grey. His hands were joined like a person in prayer. The third figure that stood before me was that of St John the Evangelist. He stood erect at the Gospel side of the altar, and at an angle with the Blesses Virgin so that his back was not turned to the altar, nor to the Mother of God.|

St John was dressed like a bishop preaching; he wore a small mitre on his head, and held a Mass book or Book of Gospels in his left hand: the right hand was raised to the elevation of the head, as if he were preaching, but I heard no voice. I came so near that I looked into the book, I saw the lines and the letters. St John wore no sandals, his left hand was turned toward the altar that was behind him.

On the altar stood a lamb, the size of a lamb eight weeks old, the face of the lamb was fronting the west, and looking in the direction of the Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph; behind the land a large cross was placed erect or perpendicular on the altar. Around the lamb I saw angels hovering during the whole time, for the space of one hour and a half, or more; I saw their wings fluttering but I did nor perceive their heads or faces which were not turned to me.

For the space of an hour and a half we were under the pouring rain; at this time I was very wet. I noticed that the rain did not wit the figures".