Tranquilla -The Carmelite Community at Knock

Secluded in the grounds close to Knock Shrine, you will find  Tranquilla, the Carmelite monastery of the Nativity which is home to 20 Carmelite sisters. Pilgrims and parishioners alike often like to visit the Monastery chapel for some quiet prayer and reflection. The Carmelite order was founded by St. Teresa of Avila in 1562. St. Teresa’s special gift for her nuns was to fashion small communities where the sisters could combine a life of prayer, silence and solitude with the warmth and support of a loving community.

This Irish community that is now based at Knock was founded in Dublin in 1833 and the contemplative order moved to Knock from Dublin at the invitation of their Prior General in Rome in 1981. The foundation stone for the new monastery was blessed by St. John Paul II on his visit to Knock Shrine in 1979.

“May the Carmelite Community at Knock be a continual ‘Magnificat’ and through docility to the Holy Spirit may the sisters become, more and more, channels of God’s Merciful Love, for the Church in Ireland and the whole world” – Fr. Finian Monahan OCD

During this month of May you may wish to pray the Rosary  using the innovative audio player recorded by the Carmelite community at Tranquilla monastery, Knock.  This portable Player with earphones is lightweight and each of the Joyful,  Sorrowful, Glorious and Luminous Mysteries. Meditations  are included with each Mystery. Two Marian hymns sung by the community are also included.

Find out more here.

To find out more about Carmelite spirituality, see our selection of books here.