Note to my international customers: International shipping times on average can take up to 3 weeks sometimes sooner while sometimes a bit longer. I do always ship items out within a day from when they are purchased.
This offering is very elegant and holds very special meaning for the Faithful as it contains small fragments of a stone from St. Michael Shrine Monte Sant’Angelo, Gargano, Italy.
The last 3 info history photos posted will be emailed upon purchase.
This St. Michael prayer cross has set into the center a clay seal relief of St. Michael. It has a small stone fragment that is from the heavenly grotto cave at the Shrine of Saint Michael the Archangel in Monte Sant’Angelo, Gargano, Italy – the oldest shrine in Western Europe dedicated to the archangel Michael. Each one I make is one of a kind unique. This measures 3" and comes with the gold foil gift box and COA card shown with the prayer relief. It is very comforting to hold in your hands as you pray it has a silk coffee colored tassel.
History of the St. Michael Shrine Monte Sant’Angelo, Gargano, Italy The earliest account of the foundation of the Sanctuary is a composite Latin hagiographical text known as Liberde apparitione Sancti Michael is in Monte Gargano (Bibliotheca Hagiographica Latina 5948).
The History of Saint Michael’s Cave:
In the year 490, when a nobleman of this small village lost the best bull in his herd, he went searching for him and found the bull kneeling in a deserted cave. The cave was inaccessible, and so in order to scare the bull out of the cave, the nobleman shot an arrow but to his amazement the arrow turned around and struck him instead! Stunned by this apparently supernatural event, the man went to see the local bishop for advice. The Bishop, uncertain of whether this was of divine origin or not, ordered 3 days of prayer and fasting. Saint Michael also appeared to the Bishop; however, he had his doubts about the apparition, thinking perhaps he had just dreamed it, and decided to ignore it and put it out of his mind. When, a few years later, a city in the Bishop’s diocese was threatened with annihilation by pagans, Saint Michael again appeared to the Bishop and promised that the city would be spared if the townspeople would attack the enemy in faith, and it was spared.
Even after that, the Bishop had doubts, and still did not have a church built on the site of the cave. But it was constantly on his mind, so in the following year as the anniversary of the apparition approached, he appealed to the Pope for guidance. The Pope ordered the Bishop, along with other Bishops and Priests, to go to the cave for three days of prayer and fasting. Not wishing to go in to the cave, the Bishop prayed at the entrance and then, on the third day, once again Saint Michael appeared to him. Saint Michael said: “I am Michael the Archangel and am always in the presence of God. I chose the cave as sacred to me. There will be no more shedding of bull’s blood. Where the rocks open widely, the sins of men 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 God.” He ordered the Bishop to enter the cave, telling him that it was not necessary for him to consecrate the cave since he, Saint Michael, had already done it.
Ancient text also describes Michael's intercession on behalf of the Sipontans and the Beneventans against invading pagan Neapolitans. On the eve of the battle, Michael appeared with flaming sword atop the mountain; the Sipontans and Beneventans were victorious. Giorgio Otranto identifies this battle as the one recorded in Book 4 of Paul the Deacon’s History of the Lombards. which describes the defense of Mount Gargano against unidentified 'Greeks' – possibly Byzantine Greeks – by the Lombard Duke of Benevento, Grimoald I, on 8 May 663. In commemoration of this victory, the church of Sipontum instituted a special feast on May 8 honoring the Archangel, which then spread throughout the Western Christendom during the 9th century.
Another apparition of St. Michael, from the 1600s at the cave, during the time of the plague is also recorded. This time, Michael was entreated for help because a pandemic was decimating the population of the area. Michael urged the bishop to bless the stones of the cave and distribute them. This was done and the plague faded away.
Saint Michael’s Cave is one of the seven sacred sites along an imaginary line stretching from Ireland to Israel, known as “The Sword of Saint Michael“. This is one of the holiest places in Italy and indeed throughout Christendom, located on the eastern coast of Italy. “On the floor of the cave is the main altar, featuring a statue of the Archangel. Behind the altar there is a natural fountain, a basin filled with rainwater dripping from the ceiling. The water is said to be blessed and have miraculous healing properties. The grotto is about 170 feet deep and just 10 to 20 feet tall. The walls are covered in mosses, small stalagmites and stalactites, and beautiful faded frescoes. The dark sanctuary evokes a strong feeling of spirituality and mysticism, even among those who may not be looking for it. It is a uniquely peaceful space that inspires reflection.”