Padre Pio was deeply devoted to the Sanctuary of St. Michael atop Mount Gargano and would often direct penitents to climb the mountain to petition the Archangel’s intercession in their battle against sin. In commemoration of this event, May 8th was established as a local feast day in honor of St. Michael, which eventually spread throughout the Church and became associated less with the victory in battle and more with the Archangel’s apparitions when the sanctuary atop Mount Gargano was first established. The Archangel’s promise was fulfilled and since that time the Sanctuary of St. Michael at Mount Gargano has distributed stones from the Grotto of the Apparitions far and wide.