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chaplet of st. michael the archangel
The Chaplet of St. Michael is a wonderful way to honor
this great Archangel along with the other nine Choirs of Angels.
What do we mean by Choirs? It seems that God has created various
orders of Angels. Sacred Scripture distinguishes nine such groupings:
Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones, Dominions, Powers, Virtues, Principalities,
Archangels and Angels (Isa. 6:2; Gen. 3:24; Col. 1:6; Eph. 1:21;
Rom. 8:38). There may be more groupings but these are the only ones
that have been revealed to us. The Seraphim is believed to be the
highest Choir, the most intimately united to God, while the Angelic
Choir is the lowest.
The history of this Chaplet goes back to a devout Servant of God
Antonia d'Astonac, who had a vision of St. Michael. He told Antonia
to honor him by nine salutations to the nine Choirs of Angels. St.
Michael promised that whoever would practice this devotion in his
honor would have, when approaching Holy Communion, as escort of
nine angels chosen from each of the nine Choirs. In addition, for
those who would recite the Chaplet daily, he promised his continual
assistance and that of all the holy angels during life.
O God, come to my assistance. O Lord, make haste to help me. Glory
be to the Father and to the son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was
in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.
(Say
one Our Father and three Hail Mary’s after each of the following
nine salutations in honor of the nine Choirs of Angels)
1. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of
Seraphim may the Lord make us worthy to burn with the fire of perfect
charity. Amen.
2. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of
Cherubim may the Lord grant us the grace to leave the ways of sin
and run in the paths of Christian perfection. Amen.
3. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of
Thrones may the Lord infuse into our hearts a true and sincere spirit
of humility. Amen.
4. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of
Dominions may the Lord give us grace to govern our senses and overcome
any unruly passions. Amen.
5. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of
Powers may the Lord protect our souls against the snares and temptations
of the devil. Amen.
6. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of
Virtues may the Lord preserve us from evil and falling into temptation.
Amen.
7. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of
Principalities may God fill our souls with a true spirit of obedience.
Amen.
8. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of
Archangels may the Lord give us perseverance in faith and in all
good works in order that we may attain the glory of Heaven. Amen.
9. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of
Angels may the Lord grant us to be protected by them in this mortal
life and conducted in the life to come to Heaven. Amen.
Say one Our Father in honor of each of the following leading Angels:
St. Michael, St. Gabriel, St. Raphael and our Guardian Angel.
Concluding
prayers
O glorious prince St. Michael, chief and commander of the heavenly
hosts, guardian of souls, vanquisher of rebel spirits, servant in
the house of the Divine King and our admirable conductor, you who
shine with excellence and superhuman virtue deliver us from all
evil, who turn to you with confidence and enable us by your gracious
protection to serve God more and more faithfully every day.
Pray for us, O glorious St. Michael, Prince of the Church of Jesus
Christ, that we may be made worthy of His promises.
Almighty and Everlasting God, Who, by a prodigy of goodness and
a merciful desire for the salvation of all men, has appointed the
most glorious Archangel St. Michael Prince of Your Church, make
us worthy, we ask You, to be delivered from all our enemies, that
none of them may harass us at the hour of death, but that we may
be conducted by him into Your Presence. This we ask through the
merits of Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.
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Jesus
Invitation