THE first time I saw a picture of Mont Saint Michel in Time Magazine’s Great Buildings of the World, I fell in love. I had goosebumps, and a fierce, fierce desire to set foot there.
I even had a dream once, of being a monk with bowl cut hair, walking up a flight of stone steps. I wondered if this was in Mont Saint Michel.
Located in Normandy, north of France, the place has a very interesting history.
In the year 708, Archangel Michael appeared in a dream to St. Aubert, bishop of Avranches. St. Michael ordered the bishop to build him a church on top of what was then known as Mt. Tombe.
Shrugging off the dream, the bishop ignored the Archangel’s request. St. Michael appeared a second time. The bishop ignored the request again, thinking about the difficulty of building a church on top of the rocky island.
The third time the Archangel appeared to St. Aubert, he pressed his finger to the bishop’s forehead, burning a hole through it.
St. Aubert quickly made plans to build the church.
What is interesting is that St. Aubert’s skull, with the hole on the forehead, is still on display in St. Gervais Basilica in Avranches, where the bishop is buried.
A few years ago, Chiara and I were looking for places of peace and power where the Archangels’ energies are strongest.
Mont Saint Michel, known for its intercessory powers, is on that list for St. Michael.
We simply had to visit, and when the opportunity came this year, we built our travel plans around it.
We took the 2 hour train from Paris’ Gare de Montparnasse to Rennes.
Rennes is memorable for us because Marbodus, bishop of Renne in the 11th century, wrote a book about crystals and their properties.
From Rennes we took the scheduled bus, arriving in Mont Saint Michel an hour later.
It was hot when we got there, about 33 degrees. We initially planned to go to the solitary rock island at 7 pm, return at midnight to our hotel when the island closes.
Good thing Chiara saw that Abbaye Mont Saint Michel was open only until 7 p.m.
Stepping foot on the island fortress was like being transported to a different time and place. Like a scene from Harry Potter’s Hogsmead. The medieval architecture is so well preserved: cobbled pavements, narrow streets, a knight peeking out from one of the balconies, the imposing castle.
It was actually cool inside the castle, with some parts being downright chilly. It was very windy at the top.
It was surreal, being there.
I remember most the goosebumps at the abbey. The numerous white feathers. The stillness, the feeling of protection, the connection. The feeling of having a long time dream realised.
And then it was time to go.
Aa and I returned again past 9 pm, which was near sunset there. It was now very cold, 16 degrees. Mont Saint Michel lit up at night looks like a fairy tale castle. It’s actually the basis for the castle in Walt Disney’s Tangled.
On our last day in Paris, we decided to check out Montmarte. The cab brought us down at Sacre Couer Cathedral. It means Holy Heart, or Sacred Heart in French.
It wasn’t on our list of must visit sites on our itinerary, but since we were there, we were going to drop in quickly before leaving for the airport.
The lighting was dim and subdued inside.
We payed our respects, spent some time in quiet meditation, and then headed for the donation box.
I read that the upkeep of the church was solely dependent on donations. I was putting in mine, when the area to my left suddenly brightened, like a light had been turned on, or as if a bright sunbeam had suddenly pierced the dark interior of the church.
I looked to the left.
St. Michael’s statue was there.
I felt the familiar goosebumps, this time from the bottom of the soles of my feet, to the top of my head. This angel embrace stayed with me for a long time, as long as at Lourdes, and went on even after we were out of the Cathedral.
I tell Chiara about my unique experience.
She tells me, sunbeams are St. Michael’s signature.
They are a sign of his favour, and that prayers have been answered.
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