FOGGIA – Many devout followers of Archangel Michael are in celebration this week. On May 8 (yesterday), the town of Monte Sant’Angelo, in Foggia, Puglia, celebrates a mass, annually, in honor of Archangel Michael’s Apparition on Mount Gargano, centuries ago.
In fact, as a result for centuries May became the month celebrating The Archangel Michael, until May 8 became dedicated to Mother Mary (Mother’s Day, now the first Sunday of May) and the celebration of Archangel Michael was reallocated to September 29.
The town of Monte Sant’Angelo, then and now home to the shrine where the first appearance took place, is located in the Parco Nazionale del Gargano. UNESCO declared this Sanctuary a world protected site in 2011. Last year, 2024, the town of Monte Sant’Angelo was designated the ‘Cultural Capital’ of Puglia.
This location is the first, and oldest, shrine dedicated to the Archangel Michael in Western Europe since the start of Christianity.
Here, in 492, Archangel Micheal first appeared to the bishop of Sipontium of Gargano. A lone bull wandered into a cave while out at pasture. When his shepherd spotted him in the cave, out of anger he poisoned an arrow and launched it toward the bull. Miraculously, the arrow was returned to its owner. The ox was unharmed.
Shocked, the shepherd went to the local bishop for an explanation. The bishop recommended three days of prayer in the interim. On the third day, Archangel Michael appeared to the bishop advising him that the cave is ‘sacred and protected by him’. Commissioned to consecrate an altar in the location, the bishop took too long, and Archangel Michael consecrated one himself. In doing so, it became, and is still considered, a Celestial Basilica – one “not consecrated by human hands’’.
The Christian era documents three more appearances by the Archangel Michael at the cave, currently within the boundaries of the town of Monte Sant’Angelo. The second of these occurred in 663 (always on May 8) when he protected the land, then ruled by Longobards and its habitants, from Byzantine invaders.
One thousand years later, he made a third appearance in 1656. On this occasion, it was in response to an invocation by the Archbishop of Manfredonia, who visited the Shrine appealing to him for protection of the inhabitants against the ravages of the plague. In a ‘solution’ harkening the salvation of the Jews as the ‘angel of death’ flew over Egypt, the Archbishop directed all citizens to take a stone engraved with the initials M.A. – as per the Archangel’s instruction. Those who did, would be spared, and were.
The original shrine and cave are still intact. Architecturally, the site is a composition of chapel, church, basilica, and bell tower all built to commemorate and protect the original Shrine. The altar in the cave is host to daily mass, which is also streamed live for those interested.
Records suggest that even St. Francis of Assisi may have visited the shrine (then simply the cave), but he did not deem himself worthy enough to enter. Saint Padre Pio, a Franciscan, not only prayed here, but invited many who sought his help to come here to pray. Many Popes have also visited this site.
The Gargano area of Puglia is renowned for its inspiring natural beauty and architecture. Nearby sites to Monte Sant’Angelo, for those on a pilgrim tour, include the sanctuary of Saint Pio of Pietralcina.
Buon Onomastico (alas, yesterday) to all those who bear the name or variation of the name Michael.
And best wishes to the new Pope.
Visit the website, here: https://lacittadeiduesitiunesco.it/en/home-2/
In the pics, the sanctuary dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel (https://www.santuariosanmichele.it)
