It can only be described as a huge spiritual experience.

It’s also one of the most underrated sacred spots in the world — perhaps the most underrated.

That’s the Cave of Saint Michael in the Gargano of Italy, and we’ll be going there on our pilgrimage. I mean, powerful and mysterious!

You have probably heard about the powerful stones folks have from there. It’s basically a cave that has been consecrated into a basilica — the only one consecrated by an angel. You can read about the stones here.

“Over the centuries exorcists have used the St. Michael relic stones from the cave to liberate the demonically possessed and those who need deliverance because they are obsessed (mental) or oppressed (bodily exterior),” says a site. “St. Padre Pio would often send persons needing deliverance to the cave of St. Michael, and they would be liberated.”

It’s rather amazing, and I remember on my first and only visit there, way back in 1990, there was a lot of racket and when I looked, a person who was possessed was writhing in a pew in front of the famous statue as a priest prayed over him and the young man was delivered on the spot. The screaming came to an abrupt halt. And the great peace and grace of this place instantly returned.

Mother Angelica once told me how, when she and other nuns got a bit lost trying to drive out that way, a mysterious young man (an angel) suddenly jumped out of a car that roared alongside them and directed them.

In the fifth century, the archangel appeared to a bishop and said, “I am Michael the Archangel and am always in the presence of God. I chose the cave as sacred to me.”

He ordered the Bishop to enter the cave, telling him that it was not necessary for him to formally sanctify the cave since he, Saint Michael, had already done it.  It is the only building of worship in the Catholic Church that has not been consecrated by man. You can read more on the history here or here.

You may be familiar with the statue there:

As is pointed out, “This is one of the holiest places in Italy and indeed throughout Christendom, located on the eastern coast of Italy, close to Padre Pio’s shrine in San Giovanni Rotondo. It has been visited by countless popes and saints: Padre Pio, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Saint Bridget of Sweden, at least seven Popes including Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. Saint Francis of Assisi considered it to be so holy that he would not even enter it.”

And so it is.

And so it is the time of year to specially sanctify.

And, yes, cleansing often means spiritual “warfare.”

–MHB

[resources: Michael Brown pilgrimage, Italy]