The Chaplet to Saint Michael the Archangel and the Nine Angelic Choirs:
The Chaplet of St. Michael
O God, come to my assistance. O Lord, make haste to help me. Glory be to the Father, etc.
[Say one Our Father and three Hail Marys 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 Dominations 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 Virtues may the Lord preserve us from evil and falling into temptation.
Amen.
6. 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.
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.
The origin of the Chaplet of Saint Michael and the Nine Angelic Choirs:
The origin of the Chaplet of Saint Michael and the Nine Angelic Choirs is closely related to a private revelation and testimony of an 18th-century nun.
1. Revelation to the Holy Archangel Michael
The history of this devotion dates back to 1751 (some sources state 1750). At that time, the Holy Archangel Michael appeared to the religious sister and servant of God, Antónia d'Astonac (born in Portugal, a member of the Carmelite Order).
During this vision, Saint Michael the Archangel revealed to the nun that he wished the faithful to worship him in a special way – through nine greetings, which correspond to the nine angelic choirs:
(Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones, Dominions, Powers, Might, Principalities, Archangels and Angels).
2. Promises associated with the crown
Archangel Michael promised Sister Antonia extraordinary graces for those who would pray this chaplet:
● Holy Communion procession: The one who prays this devotion will be accompanied by a procession of nine angels during Holy Communion.
(one from each angelic choir).
● Lifelong protection: To those who pray the Chaplet daily, he promised his constant protection and the help of all the holy angels throughout their lives, as well as deliverance from purgatory after death for them and their relatives.
3. Church approval
This devotion quickly spread among the faithful. Pope Pius IX approved the Chaplet of Saint Michael the Archangel in 1851 and enriched it with indulgences, thus officially recognizing and recommending it to the Catholic Church.
Conditions for obtaining indulgences:
Pope Pius IX approved this chaplet in 1851 and associated the following indulgences with its prayer (in accordance with the practice of granting indulgences at the time):
1. Partial indulgences:
○ Indulgences of 7 years and 7 quarantines (an ancient way of expressing the degree of temporal punishment for sins) for anyone who prays this chaplet devoutly.
○ Indulgences of 100 days for each day a person wore this crown or devoutly kissed her medal.
2. Plenary indulgences:
○ Once a month for those who have prayed this chaplet every day for the entire month, after fulfilling the usual conditions (sacramental confession, Holy Communion and prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father).
○ Plenary indulgences on selected holidays, if a person has fulfilled the usual conditions:
■ Feast of the Epiphany of St. Michael the Archangel (May 8th)
■ Feast of the Holy Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael (September 29th)
■ Feast of the Holy Guardian Angels (October 2nd)
(Note: These forms of indulgences were established in the 19th century. In 1967, the Catholic Church underwent a reform of indulgences – the Enchiridion Indulgentiarum – whereby the system of counting days and years was abolished and replaced by a division into partial and plenary indulgences under general
conditions, while the prayer of the Chaplet itself remains a popular and deeply recommended devotion.)
Improving oneself in virtues:
The Chaplet of Saint Michael and the Nine Angelic Choirs is aimed not only at asking for protection, but also at spiritual growth.
and the development of specific spiritual virtues. Each of the nine angelic choirs contemplated in the chaplet reflects a certain aspect of God's glory and character that the person praying is asking for:
● Seraphim – acquiring and deepening a fervent love for God and zeal for his service.
● Cherubim – the gift of true knowledge, wisdom, and the desire to walk the path of Christian perfection.
● Thrones – asking for spiritual peace, balance, and firm rooting in God's will.
● Dominions – strengthening self-control, mastering one's passions and sensual desires.
● Strength – the gift of courage, spiritual strength, and perseverance in trials and temptations.
● Powers – protection from attacks and influences of evil spirits, victory over temptations.
● Principalities – obedience to God's commandments and spiritual authority over oneself (over one's own egoism).
● Archangels – perseverance in doing good and faithfulness in fulfilling the daily duties that God has entrusted to man.
● Angels – a request for daily guidance, protection and safe accompaniment on the path to eternal life (protection of guardian angels).
The main fruit of this prayer is general spiritual protection, strengthening in the spiritual fight against evil, growth in humility.
and approaching perfection through emulating the purity and faithfulness of the heavenly hosts.