A few years ago I wrote a popular article for Catholic Exchange, “Understanding the Mysterious Sword of St. Michael.” I proposed that these sites became dedicated to St. Michael to overcome previously established pagan sites at these high places along the line of the sun on the summer solstice, an important day for pagan rituals.
Once again, the line across Europe begins off the coast of Ireland at Skellig Michael, moves to Cornwall’s St. Michael’s Mount in England, and then onto Normandy, passing through Italy with the Sacra di San Michele in the north and Monte Sant’Angelo sul Gargano, in the south, hitting the Greek island of Symi with its Monastery of the Taxiarchis, and finishing at Mt. Carmel in the Holy Land.
There is another site dedicated to St. Michael that fits the mold of these other sites and sits awfully close to the line in Le Puy, France. The sanctuary of Rocher Saint Michel d’Aiguilhe (the Rock of St. Michael of the Needle) is just south of the line, to the southwest of Lyon (visible on the map above) and about five hours directly West of the Sacra di San Michele outside of Turin.
It fits the mold of the other sites because it also is a high place built on the rock like them. It also has a long history as a cultic site, going back to prehistoric times and dedicated to Mercury in the classical age. Michael preformed his role as the guardian angel of the Church here as well, purifying it and making it into a sign of heavenly protection. The current chapel was built in 969 and enlarged in the 12th century.
It may not lie exactly on the line of the Sword of St. Michael, but we could call it the Archangel’s dagger, stemming off the main line as another awe inspiring sign of his victory over the enemy.
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