Saint Michael the Archangel

Holy Relic of St. Michael the Archangel, Prince of the Heavenly Host.

 

Ex Crypta Apparitionis or Piece of Stone from the Cave of Mount Gargano in Italy, where St. Michael the Archangel appeared. The Cave is now a Sanctuary dedicated to the Prince of the Heavenly Host and is one of the most famous pilgrimage sites in Italy and Europe.

 

Feast Day: September 29

 

The Sanctuary of Monte Sant'Angelo sul Gargano, sometimes called simply Monte Gargano, is a Catholic sanctuary on Mount Gargano, Italy, part of the commune of Monte Sant'Angelo, in the province of Foggia, northern Apulia.

 

It is the oldest shrine in Western Europe dedicated to the archangel Michael and has been an important pilgrimage site since the middle ages. The historic site and its environs are protected by the Parco Nazionale del Gargano.

 

The legend of the Archangel's apparition at Gargano is related in the Roman Breviary for May 8, as well as in the Golden Legend (Legenda Aurea), the compendium of Christian mythology compiled by Jacobus de Voragine between 1260-1275.

 

According to this legend, around the year 490 the Archangel Michael appeared several times to the Bishop of Sipontum near a cave, asking that the cave be dedicated to Christian worship and promising protection of the nearby town of Sipontum from pagan invaders. These were the first apparitions of Michael in Western Europe.

 

Pope Gelasius I (reigned 492-496) directed that a basilica be erected enclosing the space. The Basilica di San Giovanni in Tumba is the final resting-place of the Lombard king Rothari (died 652); the designation "tumba" is now applied to the cupola on squinches.

 

To Michael's dramatic later intercession, appearing with flaming sword atop the mountain, in the midst of a storm on the eve of the battle, the Lombards of Sipontum attributed their victory (May 8, 663) over the Greeks loyal to the Byzantine emperor, and so, in commemoration of this victory, the church of Sipontum instituted a special feast honoring the Archangel, on May 8, which then spread throughout the Catholic Church. Since the time of Pius V it has been formalized as Apparitio S. Michaelis although it originally did not commemorate the apparition, but the victory of the barbarian Lombards over the Orthodox Greeks.

 

The complex of buildings consists of the Battistero di San Giovanni in Tumba, damaged in 1942, and the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore. The baptistery presents a rectangular storey on which rests an octagon supporting an elliptical section and a high drum that supports the cupola. The church erected in the eleventh century by Archbishop Leone stands upon the remains of an ancient necropolis. A few remnants attest to its once-rich fresco decoration.

 

The Castello was enlarged by the Normans upon an episcopal residence of Orso, Bishop of Benevento, to provide a suitable seat for the Honor Montis Sancti Angeli, further modified by Frederick II. The massive, octagonal campanile was built in the late 13th century by Frederick II as a watchtower. It was turned into a bell tower by Charles I of Anjou.

 

Behind a forecourt the sanctuary presents a portico of two Gothic arches, the right one of 1395 by the local architect Simone, the left one a reconstruction of 1865. From the portico steps lead down to the low arched nave. The cavern can be accessed from a Romanesque portal, called the Portale del Toro ("Gate of the Bull"): the doors, in bronze, were made in Constantinople in 1076, the donation of an Amalfitan noble. They are divided in 24 panels portraying episodes of angels from the Old and New Testaments.

 

The archaic cavern opening to the left, with its holy well, is full of votive offerings, especially the 12th century marble bishop's throne supported on crouching lions. Among the ex voto objects is a statue of the Archangel by Andrea Sansovino.

 

During centuries, millions of pilgrims went to Monte Sant'Angelo in order to visit the “Celestial Basilica”. Among the pilgrims who visited the Saint Michael Archangel Sanctuary were many popes (Gelasius I, Leo IX, Urban II, Alexander III, Gregory X, Celestine V, John XXIII as Cardinal, John Paul II), saints (Bridget of Sweden, Bernard of Clairvaux, Thomas Aquinas) emperors, kings and princes (Louis II of Italy, Otto III, Henry II, Matilda of Tuscany, Charles I of Naples, Ferdinand II of Aragon).

 

Also Francis of Assisi went to visit the Sanctuary, but feeling himself unworthy to enter the grotto, he stopped in prayer and meditation at the entrance, kissed and carved on a stone the sign of the cross in the form of “T” (tau).

 

Since 13 July 1996, the pastoral care of Saint Michael Archangel Sanctuary has been given to the Congregation of Saint Michael the Archangel.

 

ACT OF CONSECRATION

 

Oh, most Noble Prince

of the Angelic Hierarchies,

valorous warrior of Almighty God,

and zealous lover of His glory,

terror of the rebellious angels,

and love and delight of all the just,

my beloved Archangel Saint Michael,

desiring to be numbered among your

devoted servants,

I, today offer and consecrate myself to you,

and place myself, my family and all I possess

under your most powerful protection.

I entreat you not to look at how little I,

as your servant have to offer,

being only a wretched sinner,

but to gaze rather with favourable

eye at the heartfelt affection

with which this offering is made,

and remember that it from this day

onward I am under your patronage,

you must during all my life assist me,

and procure for me

the pardon of my many grievous

offences and sins,

the grace to love with all my heart my God,

my dear Saviour Jesus,

and my Sweet Mother Mary,

and obtain for me all the help necessary

to arrive to my crown of glory.

Defend me always

from my spiritual enemies,

particularly in the last moments of my life.

Come then oh glorious Prince

and succour me in my last struggle,

and with your powerful weapon

cast far from me

into the infernal abysses that prevaricator

and proud angel that one day you prostrated

in the celestial battle.

Accompany me then to the throne of God

to sing with you, Archangel Saint Michael

and all the Angels, praise, honour and glory

to the One who reigns for all eternity.

Amen.

Done