A view from an upper window of Sacra di San Michele, Italy, July 2025. / Credit: Emma Silvestri
Paris, France, Jul 12, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).
Stretchingbacktoancienttimes,ChristianpilgrimsandcuriousobservershavenotedaninvisiblelinespanningthecontinentofEuropeacrosstotheHolyLand,knownas“St.Michael’sSword.”Thelinefollowsthelocationsofsevensanctuariesdedicatedtotheleaderoftheheavenlyhosts—fromthenortherntipofIrelandtoJerusaleminthesouth,passingthroughFrance,Italy,andGreece.
“Peoplearesurprisedwhenwetalkaboutaline.Ifyoulookatamap,thelineisn’tperfectlystraight.Butweliveonaglobe—linesarerelative.Forme,whatmattersisthedirectionthissymbolgives,”TatianaBogni,aguidefor20yearsattheSacradiSanMicheleinPiedmont,Italy,toldCNA.
BogniispassionateabouttheSacradiSanMichele,locatedatthecenteroftheinvisiblelineconnectingthesevensanctuaries,andspeakstirelesslyaboutthemedievalbuildingperchedonarockwhereSt.Michaelissaidtohaveappeared.
AstatueofSt.MichaelsitsintheSacradiSanMichele,Italy,July2025.Credit:EmmaSilvestriOve
