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The Chaplet of St Michael the Archangel is a devotion to the nine choirs of Angels. Each of the choirs of Angels is invoked and carries an area of responsibility as ordained by Almighty God.
Michael the Archangel is a member of the second last of the ranking angles. He came to prominence when he rose from this rank to battle Lucifer who belonged to the second highest rank, the Cherubim. Michael the Archangel holds four offices including escorting souls to the judgment seat. The devotion through the chaplet calls upon the assistance of the entire choirs of angels.
Michael the Archangel comes from the Hebrew word מִיכָאֵל, mikha’el which means ‘Who is like God?’
Michael the Archangel first appears in the Book of Daniel:
“But the prince of the kingdom of the Persians resisted me one and twenty days: and behold Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, and I remained there by the king of the Persians.” (Daniel 10:13)
In the New Testament, Michael fights and is victorious over satan and his angels and they fall into Hell:“And there was a great battle in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon fought, and his angels. And they prevailed not: neither was their place found any more in heaven. And that great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, who seduceth the whole world. And he was cast unto the earth: and his angels were thrown down with him.” (Apocalypse 12:7-9).
Who are the Seven Archangels?
The Book of Enoch known as 1Enoch is considered one of the spurious or Pseudepigrapha books that were not included by Jewish Scholars as it is not considered to meet the criteria of being written 200 years before Christ.
The Book of Enoch refers to Seven Archangels. These are listed as:
“These are the angels of powers: Uriel, one of the holy angels, who is over the world and the netherworld; Raphael, one of the holy angels, who is over the spirits of men; Raguel, one of the holy angels, who avenges the world of luminaries; Michael, one of the holy angels, who was appointed over the good ones of the people and over the chaos; Sariel, one of the holy angels, who is over the spirits who sin in the spirit;Gabriel, one of the holy angels, who is over paradise and the dragons and Cherubim. These are the seven names of the archangels. (1Enoch 20:1-7).
| Archangel | Meaning of the name | What role they play? |
| Michael | Who is like God? | Appointed over good of the people and chaos. |
| Gabriel | Strength of God. | |
| Uriel | Angel of Light. | Who is over the world and the underworld. |
| Raphael | God has healed. | Who is over the spirits of men. |
| Raguel | Friend of God. | Who avengers the world of luminaries. |
| Sariel | Prince of God. | Reproves those who blaspheme God. |
| Remiel | Thunder of God | God sets over those who rise. |
What are the four offices that Michael the Archangel holds?
Michael the Archangel holds four offices:
- Fight Satan
- Rescue souls from the power of the enemy especially at the hour of death.
- Guard and protector of the Church Militant on earth.
- Bring souls to the judgement seat before God.
What is the St Michael the Archangel chaplet devotion?
In this devotion, the Catholic Church welcomes the invocation of the warriors of the spiritual realm, the Angels and in particular the St Michael the Archangel Chaplet.
Angels are often spoken about and depicted by Hollywood in various movies.. But Angels are more important and necessary to our existence in the temporal world.
The angels are spoken about in Scripture and often are depicted in forms of humans, speaking, and interacting with humanity. The Church, based on Scriptural, that angels do more than just deliver God’s messages to mankind.
What is the meaning of ‘Angel’?
In its simplest form, the word angel means ‘Messenger”.
What are the Nine Choirs of Angels?
The nine choirs of angels are divided into 3 levels.
| Level | Choir of angel | Scripture Reference | Responsibilities | Meaning |
| Level One | Contemplate and adore God. | |||
| Seraphim | Exodus 25:13-25; Ezekiel 0:14; Apocalypse 4-6 | the highest choir, comprehend God with maximum clarity, and therefore their love flames the hottest. | “the burning ones” | |
| Cherubim | Isaiah 6:1-7 | contemplate God in His wise plan and providence | “fullness of wisdom” | |
| Thrones | Ezekiel 10:17; Colossians 1:16; Daniel 7:9 | contemplate God’s power and judgments they have judicial, juridical power. | “judicial power” | |
| Level Two | Carry out plans for the universe | |||
| Dominions (Dominations) | Ephesians 1:21; Colossians l 1:16. | command the lesser angels below them. | “authority” | |
| Powers | Ephesians 3:10; Ephesians 6:12 | fighting against evil influences | n/a | |
| Virtues | Ephesians 1:21 | orders from the dominations and “run” the universe | n/a | |
| Level Three | directly looking after human affairs | |||
| Principalities | Ephesians 3:10; Ephesians 1:21 | care for earthly issues that is, cities and nations and kingdoms | n/a | |
| Archangels | Jude 9:1; 1 Thessalonians 4:16 | carry God’s important messages to man | n/a | |
| Angels | (St Luke 22:43; St Mathew 18:10; Hebrews 13:2 | “guardian angels”, one for everyone | n/a | |
St. Thomas Aquinas teaches the ranking of the Nine Choirs of Angels in the Summa Theologica. Now that we have identified where Angels come from, their roles and responsibilities and we can start to understand that they are here for our temporal and spiritual means and protection against the Evil Angels who fell from Heaven, called Demons.
What is the St Michael the Archangel Chaplet Devotion?
The St Michael the Archangel Chaplet is a devotion that honors and calls upon the assistance and intercession of all NINE Choirs of Angels.
History of the Chaplet.
The Chaplet was given to a Portuguese Carmelite nun Antonia d’Astonac.
In a private vision, Saint Michael the Archangel told the devout Nun that he wished to be honoured by nine salutations corresponding to the nine Choirs of Angels, which should consist of one Our Father and three Hail Marys in honour of each of the Angelic Choirs.
Promise to those who devoutly pray the Chaplet.
The Promise made by St Michael the Archangel to whoever devoutly prays this Chaplet is as follows:
“Whoever would practice this devotion in his honour would have, when approaching the Holy Table, an escort of nine angels chosen from each of the nine Choirs. In addition, for the daily recital of these nine salutations, he promised his continual assistance and that all the holy angels during life, and after death deliverance from Purgatory for themselves and all their relations.”
How to Pray the St Michael the Archangel Chaplet?
Praying the St Michael Archangel Chaplet.
Begin by saying the following invocation on the medal:
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. Amen.
This is followed by 9 salutations to each of the choirs of Angels.
1. “Through 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.”
One Our Father and Three Hail Mary’s.
2. ” Through the intercession of St. Michael and the Celestial choir of Cherubim,
may the Lord vouchsafe to grant us grace to leave the ways of wickedness
and run in the paths of Christian perfection. Amen.”
Our Father and three Hail Mary’s.
3. “Through 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.”
Our Father and three Hail Mary’s.
4. ” Through the intercession of St. Michael and the Celestial choir of Dominions,
may the Lord give us grace to govern our senses and subdue our unruly passions. Amen.”
Our Father and three Hail Mary’s.
5. ” Through the intercession of St. Michael and the Celestial choir of Virtues,
may the Lord preserve us from evil, an suffer us not to fall into temptation. Amen.”
Our Father and three Hail Mary’s.
6. ” Through the intercession of St. Michael and the Celestial choir of Powers,
may the Lord vouchsafe to protect our souls against the snares and temptations of the devil. Amen.”
Our Father and three Hail Mary’s.
7. “Through the intercession of St. Michael and the Celestial choir of Principalities,
may God fill our souls with a true spirit of obedience. Amen.”
Our Father and three Hail Mary’s.
8. ” Through the intercession of St. Michael and the Celestial choir of Archangels, may the Lord give us
perseverance in faith and in good works, in order that we gain the glory of Paradise. Amen.”
Our Father and three Hail Mary’s.
9. “Through 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. Amen.” Our Father and three Hail Mary’s.
At the completion of the 9 salutations say one Our Father in honour of each of the following leading Angels: St Michael; St Gabriel; St Raphael; and our Guardian Angel.
These are prayed on the 4 beads.
The Chaplet is concluded with the following 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,
thou who dost shine with excellence and superhuman virtue, vouchsafe to deliver us from all evil,
who turn to thee with confidence, and enable us by thy gracious protection
to serve God more and more faithfully every day. Amen.”
V. Pray for us, O Glorious St. Michael, Prince of the Church of Jesus Christ.
R. That we may be made worthy of His Promises.
Prayer
“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 Thy Church, make us worthy, we beseech Thee,
to be delivered by his powerful protection from all our enemies,
that none of them may harass us at the hour of our death,
but that we may be conducted by him into the august presence of Thy Divine Majesty.
This we beg through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
The Chaplet was approved by Pope Pius IX in 1851.
St Michael the Archangel and the entire choirs of angels,
Pray for us.
