To many men is known the holy place of St. Michael, on the mountain which
is called Garganus. The mountain stands on the borders of the land of
Campania, towards the Adriatic sea, twelve miles in ascent from a town
which is called Sepontina. From that place originated this day's festival
throughout the faithful church. There dwelt a very rich man called
Garganus: from his adventure the mountain was so named. It happened when
the immense multitude of his cattle was grazing on the mountain, that an
unruly bull wandered alone and despised the drove. Hereupon the master
Garganus gathered a great many of his household servants, and sought the
bull everywhere in the waste, and at last found him standing on the knoll
of the high mountain, at the entrance of a cavern; and he was then moved
with anger, because the solitary bull had despised his herd, and bent his
bow, and would shoot him with a poisoned arrow; but the poisoned arrow
turned back as if thrown by the wind's blast, and instantly slew him who
had shot it.
His kinsmen then and neighbours were greatly astonished by that deed, and
not one of them durst approach the bull. They then asked counsel of their
bishop, what they should do in the matter. The bishop then found it
advisable, that they should ask from God an explanation of the miracle with
a fast of three days. On the third night of the fast the archangel Michael
appeared to the bishop in a ghostly vision, thus saying, "Wisely ye did to
seek at God that which was hidden to men. Know thou for certain, that the
man who was shot with his own arrow, that it was done with my will. I am
Michael, the archangel of God Almighty, and I continue ever in his sight. I
say to thee that I especially love {505} the place which the bull defended,
and I would by that sign manifest that I am the guardian of the place; and
of all the miracles which there happen, I am the spectator and observer."
And with these words the archangel departed to heaven.
The bishop recounted his vision to the townsfolk, and they afterwards
usually resorted thither, and fervently prayed the living God and his
archangel Michael. Two doors they saw in the church, and the south door was
somewhat larger, from which there lay steps to the west part: but they
durst not visit the holy house with entrance, but daily prayed fervently at
the door.
Then at the same time the Neapolitans, who yet continued in heathenism,
declared war against the inhabitants of the city of Sepontina, who
worshiped the holy place, and against those of Benevento. They then,
instructed by the admonitions of their bishop, prayed for a space of three
days, that they might, in those three days, implore with fasting the
succour of the archangel Michael. The heathen also in like manner, with
gifts and offerings, diligently implored the guardianship and protection of
their false gods.
Lo, on the night then on the morrow of which the fight was to take place,
the archangel Michael appeared to the bishop, and said that he had heard
their prayers, and promised them his succour, and commanded them to array
themselves against their foes one hour after morning-tide. They then on the
morrow blithe and free from care, through the angel's promise, and with
confidence in his succour, marched against the heathen. Then immediately at
the beginning of the fight the mount Garganus was trembling with immense
quaking, and great lightning flew from the mountain as it were arrows
against the heathen folk, and the knoll of the mount was all overhung with
dark clouds. Whereupon the heathen with affrighted mind took to flight, and
at the same time that they were shot with fiery arrows, they {507} were
overwhelmed from behind by the weapons of the christians, until half-dead
they sought their city Naples. But those who escaped from those perils,
acknowledged that God's angel came to the succour of the christians, and
they straightways subjected their necks to Christ, and became armed with
his faith. Verily in that slaughter there were counted six hundred men shot
with the fiery arrows. The christians then victorious returned home with
great confidence and joy, and brought their promise to the temple to
Almighty God and his archangel Michael. Then saw they before the north door
of the church, on the marble stone, as it were a man's footsteps, firmly
impressed on the stone, and they then understood that the archangel Michael
would manifest that token of his presence. They then forthwith raised a
church and an altar thereover, to the praise of the archangel, who had
stood in that place succouring them.
There was then a great doubt among the townsfolk concerning the church,
whether they should go in, or should hallow it. Whereupon they raised a
church in the east part of the place, and hallowed it to the honour of the
apostle Peter, and therein placed an altar to St. Mary and John the
Baptist. Then at last the bishop sent to the pope, and asked him, how they
were to do concerning the archangel's structure. To this errand the pope
answered thus, "If it is allowed to men to hallow the church which the
archangel himself constructed, then the hallowing ought to be on the day on
which, through the grace of the Almighty, he gave you victory. But if aught
else should be pleasing to the archangel, ask his will on the same day."
When this answer was announced to the bishop, he enjoined to his
fellow-citizens a fast of three days, and prayed to the Holy Trinity that
some certain sign might be shown him concerning their doubt. The archangel
Michael then, on the third night of the fast, said to the bishop in a
dream, "There is no need for you to hallow the church which I have
constructed. I {509} myself constructed and hallowed it. But go into the
church fearlessly, and in my presence visit the place according to custom
with prayers; and do thou sing mass there to-morrow, and let the people,
after the divine rites, go to housel; and I will then show how I through
myself hallowed the place."
They then straightways on the morrow went joyfully thither with their
offerings, and with great unity of their prayers went in on the south part.
Lo then they saw a long portico on the north part stretching very near to
the marble stone, on which the angel standing had manifested his
foot-marks. On the east part was seen a great church to which they step by
step ascended. The church with its portico could easily contain in its
space five hundred men: and there stood, placed against the middle of the
south wall, a venerable altar covered with a red pall. That house was not
constructed after the fashion of men, but had divers towers at the corners,
in likeness of a cave. The roof also was of various height: in one place a
man might reach it with his head, in another hardly with his hand. I
believe that the archangel would thereby manifest that he much more sought
and loved cleanness of heart than the adornment of stones. The mountain's
knoll without is partly overgrown with wood, and again partly overspread
with the green field.
But after the mass and the holy housel every one with great joy returned to
his own. The bishop then placed God's servants there, singers, and readers,
and priests, that they might daily there perform God's service in a fitting
manner; and commanded a monastic house to be there built for them. There
is, however, no man daring to that degree that he dares to come within the
church in the night-time, but at dawn, when God's servants are singing
God's praise therein. From the roof-stone on the north part of the holy
altar there runs drop by drop water very pure and sweet, which those who
dwelt in the place called 'stilla,' that is _drop_. There is {511} hung a
glass vessel with a silver chain, which receives the pleasant fluid. It is
the people's wont, after the housel, to go up step by step to the vessel,
and taste the heavenly fluid. The fluid is very pleasant of taste, and very
salutary to the touch. Verily very many after a tedious fever and divers
sicknesses, by drinking this fluid, speedily enjoy their health. Also in
another manner, innumerable sick are there often and frequently healed, and
many miracles, through the archangel's power, are there performed; but
chiefly on this day, when the people from every nation visit the place, and
the angel's presence is there in some measure most sensible, that the words
of the apostle may be bodily fulfilled, that which he spake spiritually: he
said, that "angels shall be sent as ministering spirits from God hither
into the world, that they may be for a succour to his chosen, that they may
receive the eternal country with him."