For the Feast of St. Michael

 On September 29 Holy Mother Church honors St. Michael the Archangel (on the traditional calendar). On the new calendar September 29 is the feast of the three Archangels Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel. In the following prayer, the "Chaplet of St. Michael", we honor St. Michael and the nine choirs of angels as distinguished in Sacred Scripture (in order of highest choir to lowest): Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones, Dominations, Virtues, Powers, Principalities, Archangels, and the Angels.

May we remember St. Michael and all of the angels as we face the spiritual battles of life, asking for their protection amidst the snares of the devil so that we may serve God more faithfully each day.  May we also tell God thank you for the great blessings of the angels.

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 1 Our Father and 3 Hail Marys after each of the following nine salutations in honor of the 9 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 1 Our Father in honor of each of the following leading Angels: St. Michael, St. Gabriel, St. Raphael and our Guardian Angel.

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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We would also do well to return to the practice of reciting the St. Michael the Archangel prayer after Mass and throughout our day.  Traditionally the St. Michael prayer was recited after every Low Mass; this practice ended with Vatican II.  However, during his papacy St. John Paul the Great encouraged the recitation of this powerful prayer, composed by Pope Leo XIII.

Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel

St. Michael the Archangel,

defend us in battle.

Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.

May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,

and do thou,

O Prince of the heavenly hosts,

by the power of God,

thrust into hell Satan,

and all the evil spirits,

who prowl about the world

seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.