Saint Michael The Archangel
- by Fr. Joseph Pius,
"Tourist Guide of the Shine, Monte Sant’Angelo"
Italy has an endless list of
interesting places to visit due to its Faith, history, beautiful
countryside and the Italians' love of art. One such place in Monte Sant’
Angelo is only a forty minute drive from San Giovanni Rotondo.
The town of Monte Sant’
Angelo was built on a spur 850 meters above sea level which overlooks both
Gargano Massif and the sea. Dominated by the ruins of Norman Castle it has
kept its ancestral customs and its ancient appearance with whitewashed
houses squeezed together onto a rapidly sloping mountainside. The
surrounding land is all rock and could easily be mistaken for the West of
Ireland.
Interest in this lovely spot
is due to the apparitions of St. Michael The Archangel. The Prince of the
Heavenly Hosts was prefigured in the Old Testament: Michael in Hebrew
means "one who is like God." There was devotion to him in the
Eastern Church but not in the Western Church until after these Apparitions
took place; it is from here that St. Michael became known throughout
Europe and the new world.
THE FIRST APPARITION
"The story of the first
apparition blends with legend. It was in 490 during the pontificate of
Gelasio I the Bishop of Siponto under whose jurisdiction Monte San’
Angel lies was the Greek, Laurence Maiorano, who was later canonized.
"One day Elvio Emanuele,
a nobleman of the area, lost the best bull of his herd. After days of
searching, he found it, kneeling in an inaccessible cave. Not being able
to get near it he shot an arrow but the arrow turned around and struck
him. Surprised by the novelty of the happening he went straight to the
Bishop who ordered three days of prayer and fasting.
"Three days later, the
Archangel appeared to the Bishop and said: "I am Michael The
Archangel and am always in the presence of God. I chose the cave which is
sacred to me. There will be no more shedding of bull’s blood (a
reference to the fact that among the mountain pagan cult was still
thriving. Where the rocks open widely the sins of man may be pardoned.
What is asked here in prayer will be granted. Therefore, go up to the
mountain cave and dedicate it to the Christian cult!" The Bishop,
undecided, deferred the execution of the angelic order.
THE SECOND APPARITION
"Two years later, in
492, the Christian City of Siponoto at the foot of the mountain was
besieged by pagan hordes of Odoacre. The city was desperate. Bishop
Laurence obtained a three day truce from Odoacre and ordered prayer and
penance.
"The Archangel appeared
to him and promised his help to the townspeople if they would attack the
enemy. They trustfully dared. Suddenly a storm broke out, sand and hail
rained upon the formations of Odoacre which were terrorized and
irretrievably escaped. Siponoto was saved! The Bishop announced a
thanksgiving procession and went up with the people atop the Archangel’s
mountain but he did not venture into the grotto.
"In 492, on the third
anniversary of the first apparition, still uncertain if he should follow
the Archangel’s order, the Bishop asked counsel of the Pontiff who
ordered him to go there with other bishops of the region after a three day
fast.
THE THIRD APPARITION
"For the third time St.
Michael appeared and ordered him to enter the grotto: "It is not
necessary that you dedicate this church that I have consecrated with my
presence. Enter and pray with my assistance and celebrate the Sacrifice. I
will show you how I have consecrated this place." The Bishop finally
obeyed. Upon entering the grotto he found an altar covered with a red
cloth and a crystal cross upon it while at the entrance the imprint of an
infantile foot confirmed the presence of the Archangel Michael.
"The Bishop had a chapel
built at the entrance to the grotto and dedicated it on the 29th of
September, now kept as the feast of the Archangel Michael, Raphael and
Gabriel. The grotto is the only place of cult which is not consecrated by
the hand of man. The title of ‘celestial Basilica’ was conferred
during the centuries."
THE FOURTH APPARITION
The last apparition of St.
Michael was in answer to prayer as the terrible plague of 1656 had hit the
area. The local bishop with his people invoked the Archangel and the
plague ceased. It was at this time that the use of stone chips from the
cave began to be used by the faithful much as medals or scupulars are used
today. This custom is carried on even now by the local people who take
small stones and place them around their homes and in the fields.
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A GLORIOUS HISTORY
The town has a glorious
history. Its first dwellings grew up around the cave of the apparitions.
However, the religious importance of the town was exploited to military
and political ends. Domination of the Greeks and Longobards who had take
St. Michael as their patron lasted until the ninth century when the town
was devastated by the Saracens. The Carolingans then conquered and
restored it. German Emperors proclaimed the Archangel protector of the
Empire and lavished the town with privileges. The Swedes took over only to
be ousted by Charles I of Anjou who adorned the town. The political glory
declined but the devotion to St. Michael did not, for the cave which was
graced by his presence has always remained a place of pilgrimage. It fame
has spread far and wide.
Five Popes considered it
worthy enough to make a pilgrimage there (Pope John went too but as a
Cardinal). There is also a long list of sovereigns and government heads
who have knelt in the damp cave basilica. The long list of saints who have
made their way there includes Francis of Assisi, Bernard, William of
Vercelli, Aniello of Naples, Bridget of Sweden and Gerardo Maiella.
Our very own Padre Pio couldn’t
be missing as he had a great devotion to St. Michael. The Padre had made
the trip in July of 1917. He traveled in a donkey cart, if you will,
offered Mass and returned to San Giovanni Rotondo after a light meal and a
bit of rest. However, his devotion to St. Michael didn’t stop there. It
was very much in evidence; for example, I personally heard Padre Pio
invoking the Archangel daily and it’s a very well-known fact that he
would give penance to St. Michael, even going so far as to send persons
there in penitential pilgrimage.
ART ABOUNDS
Granted the spiritual aspect
is the most important but an article on Monte Sant’ Angelo wouldn’t be
complete without a word on the art treasures which have accumulated there
down through the centuries.
This first thing that strikes
you upon entering the town, after the countryside, is the architecture.
The octagonal bell tower with its lovely architectural detail, gives the
impression of stone lace, the simple and elegant detail, the simple and
elegant entrance or upper atrium made of two arches -- one done in 1395
and the other, perfectly copying the original, in 1865. The long flight of
stairs going down to the lower atrium is the actual entrance to the cave
basilica. Numerous tablets on the walls recall the history, in part, of
the shrine. The roving eyes stop at what turns out to be tombs for, we are
told, it was considered a privilege to be buried near the cave. Then the
eye falls on what, for art lovers, is a real treasure: the bronze doors
set in a Romanesque doorway.
The doors, mentioned in any
art book on Byzantine art, were made in Constantinople (Istanbul) in 1076.
The twenty -four panels show stories of the appearance of angels from the
Old and New Testaments and the apparitions of St. Michael.
One passes through the
doorway and remains a bit surprised to find oneself in a real cave which
has been closed by a series of very high Gothic arches. The walls of the
caves, in spots, seem to be dripping from the irregular rocky roof through
mysterious veining: its calcareous character causes constant dripping.
Our guide book says the cave
is filled with a "succession of Byzantine, Romanesque, Gothic,
Moorish and Ravenna styles even to the gaiety of the Renaissance,"
but it is the white Carrara statue by "Sansovino" that stands
out against the dark stone walls. We are told it rests on the very spot
where St. Michael is thought to have appeared.
The famous Episcopal chair by
Aceptus, one of three in the world, is noted. A statue of St. Sebastian --
the stiffness of its body form -- tells us it's ancient. We stop briefly
at a series of altars, each bearing a work of art, but it is the statue of
Our Lady with Child and a bas relief of the Trinity that are more
striking. Having come upon a 17th century altar, we pass by quickly, as
Baroque isn’t our forte.
Once again we invoke the
Archangel’s protection and climb the stairs to the upper atrium. Outside
again, we wander throughout the old characteristic centre of the town and
take a peep into the three small rooms of the ethnographic museum of
Gargano folklore.
We think you’ll agree that
from a religious, artistic, and historical point of view, a visit to Monte
Sant’ Angelo, where the Archangel appeared, is worthwhile.
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