Column: The Legend of the Sword and Sanctuary of St. Michael

A mysterious imaginary line called "The Sword of St. Michael" links seven monasteries from Ireland to Israel, all dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel. According to legend, the line represents the blow with which St. Michael sent the devil to hell.

One of the seven monasteries is called the "Cave or Sanctuary of Saint Michael" (Monte Sant'Angelo) in Gargano, Italy. This large limestone cave was a site of pagan worship in Greek and Roman times. In the late 5th century, the cave was transformed into a church dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel.

The Sanctuary of Saint Michael is one of the most important sites of pilgrimage visited by many emperors and kings, popes and pilgrims and saints. St. Francis of Assisi did not feel worthy to enter but prayed for thirty days and nights at the entrance of the cave. He then kissed a stone and carved on it the sign of the cross. Later, St. Padre Pio would send penitents needing deliverance from evil spirits to journey 20 miles to the cave, and they were healed.

Around 490, a wealthy noble named Elvio Emanuele recounted to Bishop Maiorano of Sipontum (who was later canonized) a strange event happened when his bull that was stuck at the entrance of a pagan cave. The bishop, sensing something supernatural was afoot, ordered three days of prayer and penance. At the end of the third day, St. Michael appeared to the bishop, saying,"/ am Michael the Archangel, who always stands in contemplation of the Lord. I wish to guard this place and its inhabitants in this country." After this apparition, the people and the bishop made a procession to pray at entra nee of the pagan cave. 
Two years later, barbarians tried to attack Gargano, but after three days of prayer and penance for protection, St. Michael appeared to the bishop and caused the enemy to flee. The bishop led a procession to the pagan cave to thank St. Michael, but did not enter. Bishop Maiorano asked Pope Gelasius I for advice, and the Holy Father told him to occupy the cave and to consecrate it a church.

When they arrived to consecrate the cave, St. Michael appeared to the bishop again and explained that it was not necessary to consecrate the cave as it had already been consecrated by Michael's presence. The bishop entered and found an altar, which was already consecrated by St. Michael and is the only altar in the Catholic Church that has not been consecrated by a bishop. The bishop had a church built at the entrance of the cave and dedicated it to St. Michael on September 29, 493.

The final apparition of the archangel occurred over a thousand years later, on September 25th of 1656. The region of Gargano had been suffering from the plague, so Archbishop Alfonso Puccinelli had recourse to St. Michael with three days of prayer and fasting. On the final day, the Archangel Michael appeared to the bishop and said:"/ am the Archangel Saint Michael, whoever uses the stones of this cave will be freed from the plague, bless these stones, give them the sign of the cross and my name." Soon, those in Gargano were freed from the plague, and elsewhere too for anyone that held the stones, known today as Saint Michael relic stones. In memory of this miracle, the bishop erected a statue of St. Michael in front of his palace and added the inscription: "Prince of angels, conqueror of the plague." 
Saint Michael the Archangel, pray for us! 

Have a blessed patronal feast day,
Father Michael Daly