Saint Michael the Archangel

Simeon Metaphrastes reports one of these apparitions that occurred as early as the first or second century of the Church, near the city of Chonae, in Phrygia, to a man from Laodicea; it was the cause of his conversion and that of his daughter, as well as the healing of this same daughter who was mute. It was also followed by the construction of a temple in honor of this glorious protector, as much as the persecution and the misfortune of the times could allow. Florus of Trani, the oldest of the Christian poets, asserts that before his time Saint Michael had appeared in Rome, and that a solemn feast was held there in his honor; which can only be very ancient. His verses are reported by Cardinal Baronius, in his Commentaries on the Roman Martyrology.

Sozomen and Nicephorus, in their histories, make mention of another apparition of Saint Michael t o Constantine the G Constantin le Grand Roman emperor under whose reign Allyre was born. reat, in the early years of his empire; it led him to build, in Constantinople, a magnificent church which was called the Sosthenion.

Procopius testifies that the Emperor Justinian, who reigned in the 6th century, had six churches dedicated in memory of the same prince of heaven, and that he adorned them with rich gifts.

The plague devastating the city of Rome, in the year 590, Saint Gregory the saint Grégoire le Grand Pope cited in the introduction. Great saw, above a fortress, the Mole of Hadrian, an angel sheathing his sword, to signify that the wrath of God was appeased by the prayers of the people, and that this evil was about to cease; and in memory of this miracle, about twenty years later, Pope Benedict III or IV had a church of Saint Michael built at the same place, which caused the name of this fortress to be changed, and had i t called the Caste château Saint-Ange Roman fortress renamed after the apparition of the Archangel. l Sant'Angelo. This church was soon accompanied by another of the same name in the market called the Fish Market.

Finally, we learn, from an ancient inscription that can be seen in Rome, engraved on marble, that Pope Leo IV, after having won a signal victory over the Saracens, and having driven them from the port of Rome, had a new temple built at the Vatican, under the name of this leader of the armies of God: this was around the year 849.

France has not lacked testimonies of the protection and assistance of Saint Michael. Our historians note that, around the year 709, he honored Saint Aubert, the tenth Bishop saint Aubert Tenth bishop of Avranches, founder of Mont Saint-Michel. of Avranches, with a very remarkable apparition, and declared to him that it was God's will that he build a church for him in the sea, on the top of a rock called La Tombe.

The Saint, who wanted to be certain of the truth of this vision, did not obey immediately; but the Archangel appeared to him two more times, and, at the third, he pressed his finger against his forehead, leaving a deep impression, which can still be seen on his skull.

Thus he was obliged to yield; and, having had the church built at the place that had been marked for him, he placed regular canons there. It was later given to the religious of the Order of Saint Benedict. This is what we call Mont Saint-M ichel, the pilgri mont Saint-Michel Pilgrimage site visited by Abbot Simon. mage to which was so famous, and which God has made illustrious through an infinity of miracles and supernatural aid.

But the most distinguished and remarkable apparition of Saint Michael is the one that the Church celebrates today, which took place a t Monte Gar mont Gargan Site of a famous apparition and church dedication to Saint Michael. gano, now called Monte Sant'Angelo, near the city of Siponto, known today as Manfredonia, in the province of Apulia and the kingdom of Naples.

Here is the story in brief. In the time of Pope Gelasius I, i n the year 492, pape Gélase Ier Pope of African origin who reigned from 493 to 496. a wealthy man named Gargan, who had large herds in the countryside, had one of his bulls wander away from the others and flee into the mountains. It was searched for in vain for several days; but, having finally found it in a cave, they shot an arrow at it, which, rebounding against the one who had shot it, wounded him.

His companions, astonished by this accident and judging that there was something mysterious beneath it, had recourse to the Bishop of Siponto to learn from him what it could be. This prelate ordered a three-day fast and exhorted the faithful to pray to obtain from heaven the grace to discover what this miracle signified.

At the end of three days, Saint Michael appeared to him and declared that this cave, where the bull had retreated, was under his protection, and that God willed it to be consecrated in his name in honor of all the angels.

The bishop, accompanied by all his clergy and his people, went to recognize it and found it already perfectly arranged in the form of a church: they began to celebrate the divine offices there, and they also built a more magnificent temple there, where divine power has performed several great miracles, which clearly demonstrate the truth of the revelation.

Saint Romuald Saint Romuald Founder of the Camaldolese Order. , founder of the Camaldolese Order, ordered Emperor Otto to go there barefoot from Rome, as penance for having caused the death of the senator Crescentius, or at least for having consented to his death. This is a mark of the veneration that has always been held for this holy temple, and a proof that it was a place of devotion, where pilgrims went to implore his mercy.

As we must treat more fully, on the day of the dedication of Saint Michael, of that which concerns this admirable Archangel, and speak at the same time of the perfections, properties, and ministries of the other angels, we shall not dwell on it further in this place; we shall only note that the doctor Michel Navé, canon and archdeacon of Tournay, Michel Navé Canon of Tournai and author of a chronicle on apparitions. composed a chronicle of all the apparitions of Saint Michael, and of all the extraordinary favors that have been received publicly from him both in the Old and in the New Testament. Those who wish to have more instruction on this subject may easily consult it.