In an age where spiritual distraction and moral crises seem to be at an all-time high, many Catholics are discovering a profound source of strength: the intercession of St. Michael. While the traditional Rosary remains the “spiritual weapon” of choice for the faithful, the chaplet of St. Michael offers a unique and powerful way to engage in spiritual warfare while honoring the entire celestial hierarchy.
Also known as the Angelic Rosary, this devotion includes petitions of special graces from the heavenly powers that stand before the throne of God. By invoking the aid of the Holy Angels through the chaplet of St. Michael, we do not just ask for protection; we join our voices with the nine choirs of angels in their eternal hymn of praise.
How to Pray the Chaplet of St. Michael
The chaplet of St. Michael is prayed on a specific set of beads consisting of nine groups, each containing one large bead and three small beads. You can, of course, count on your fingers if you don’t have a chaplet made specifically for this devotion.
The Opening:
Make the Sign of the Cross. On the first large bead, pray the opening prayer:
“O God, come to my assistance. O Lord, make haste to help me.”
“Glory Be to the Father…”
The Nine Salutations:
For each of the nine choirs, you recite one Our Father on the large bead and three Hail Marys on the small beads. Each group is preceded by a specific salutation (see below). Say each of these salutations before the Our Father bead of the corresponding section:
- First Salutation (The Seraphim)
“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”- Our Father
- Hail Mary (x3)
- Second Salutation (The Cherubim)
“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”- Our Father
- Hail Mary (x3)
- Third Salutation (The Thrones)
“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”- Our Father
- Hail Mary (x3)
- Fourth Salutation (The Dominations)
“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”- Our Father
- Hail Mary (x3)
- Fifth Salutation (The Virtues)
“By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Virtues, may the Lord preserve us from evil and falling into temptation. Amen”- Our Father
- Hail Mary (x3)
- Sixth Salutation (The Powers)
“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”- Our Father
- Hail Mary (x3)
- Seventh Salutation (The Principalities)
“By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Principalities, may the Lord fill our souls with a true spirit of obedience. Amen”- Our Father
- Hail Mary (x3)
- Eighth Salutation (The Archangels)
“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”- Our Father
- Hail Mary (x3)
- Ninth Salutation (The Angels)
“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”- Our Father
- Hail Mary (x3)
The Concluding Beads:
After the nine salutations, four Our Fathers are prayed on the final four beads in honor of St. Michael, St. Gabriel, St. Raphael, and our Guardian Angel.
The Closing Prayer:
It concludes with a prayer for intercession:
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.
History and Promises of the Chaplet of St. Michael
The history of the chaplet of St. Michael comes from a private revelation given to a devout Portuguese Carmelite nun, Servant of God Antonia d’Astonac, in 1751. In this vision, St. Michael told Antonia that he desired to be honored by nine salutations corresponding to the nine choirs of angels.
The devotion quickly gained traction within the Church, eventually receiving official approval and a series of indulgences from Pope Pius IX. What makes this chaplet particularly beloved are the extraordinary promises St. Michael made to those who practice it with faith:
- A Celestial Guard: To those who practice this devotion, St. Michael promised an escort of nine angels—one from each choir—to accompany them to the altar when they receive Holy Communion.
- Perpetual Assistance: To those who pray the chaplet daily, he promised his continual assistance and that of all the holy angels throughout their life.
- Deliverance for the Family: Perhaps most poignantly, the Archangel promised that those who recite the chaplet daily would receive the deliverance of themselves and their relatives from the pains of Purgatory.
Who is St. Michael the Archangel?
To understand the weight of this devotion, one must understand the figure behind it. In Sacred Scripture, St. Michael is depicted as the great defender of God’s people. From the Book of Daniel, where he is called “the great prince,” to the Book of Revelation, where he leads the heavenly armies to cast out the dragon, Michael is the champion of God’s army.
When we pray the chaplet of St. Michael the archangel, we are appealing to the “Prince of the Church.” His name itself—Mi-cha-el—is a Hebrew battle cry meaning “Who is like God?” This question serves as a permanent rebuke to the pride of the fallen angels and a reminder to the faithful that our strength lies solely in the Lord.
Understanding the Nine Choirs of Angels
A distinctive feature of this chaplet is its focus on the “Nine Choirs.” Catholic tradition, drawing from the writings of St. Dionysius and St. Gregory the Great, organizes the angelic beings into three hierarchies, each containing three choirs:
- The Highest Hierarchy: Seraphim, Cherubim, and Thrones (who contemplate and adore God directly).
- The Middle Hierarchy: Dominions, Powers, and Virtues (who govern the cosmos and the laws of nature).
- The Lower Hierarchy: Principalities, Archangels, and Angels (who interact directly with human affairs and nations).
Each salutation in the chaplet asks for a specific grace related to the nature of these angels—such as the “fire of charity” from the Seraphim or the “spirit of true and sincere humility” from the Thrones.
Benefits of the Devotion Today
In a world that often feels chaotic or spiritually oppressive, the Chaplet of St. Michael is like a spiritual shield. It reminds us that we are not fighting our battles alone, and it helps to obtain special graces for this daily combat.
By invoking the nine choirs, we cultivate a deeper awareness of the invisible world. We move from a self-centered materialistic view to a deeper and more spiritual view. Through it, we come to realize that we are part of a vast communion of saints and angels in the midst of a great struggle for the salvation of souls.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pray this on a regular Rosary?
While a dedicated St. Michael Chaplet is standard, you can adapt a regular Rosary by using the first nine decades’ worth of beads for the salutations, though the count will differ slightly. After the Our Father and three Hail Marys, you’ll move to the next Our Father bead. Remember, it’s the mental prayer, or what you do with your thoughts and desires, that gives any chaplet or devotion its real power. The words are essential, but the disposition of the mind and heart allows the prayer to be fruitful.
When is the best time to pray the Chaplet?
While it can be prayed daily, it is particularly powerful during a novena leading up to Michaelmas (September 29th) or on Tuesdays, the day traditionally dedicated to the Holy Angels.
Is it different from the St. Michael Prayer?
Yes. The short “Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle…” prayer composed by Pope Leo XIII is a separate petition. The chaplet is a longer, meditative devotion involving the nine choirs. Learn more about the St. Michael Prayer.
Conclusion
The chaplet of St. Michael the archangel reminds us that we are surrounded by a “cloud of witnesses” and a celestial army eager to assist us in our ascent toward God. By honoring St. Michael and the nine choirs of angels, we learn to join the spiritual battle alongside the heavenly hosts in our daily lives.
Going Deeper: Strengthening Your Spiritual Life
If you found the chaplet of St. Michael helpful for your prayer life, we invite you to explore these additional resources on Covenant Catholic to further equip yourself for spiritual growth:
- The Novena to St. Michael. Pray the powerful 9-day St. Michael Novena for spiritual protection and intercession. Find the daily prayers, intentions, and instructions here.
- The Guardian Angel Prayer. Learn about this powerful way to call upon your heavenly protector.
- 25 Catholic Prayers for Protection & Spiritual Warfare. Learn more about the “Arsenal of Faith,” including powerful invocations to the Precious Blood and more.
- St. Raphael Archangel Novena: Seeking Healing and Guidance. While St. Michael is our defender, St. Raphael is the “Medicine of God.” Discover how to petition the Archangel Raphael for physical healing, safe travel, and guidance in finding a virtuous spouse.
- Growth in Virtue: A Guide to Spiritual Perfection. The angels are our models for obedience and humility. This article explores how to cooperate with God’s grace to cultivate the virtues necessary to withstand temptation and grow in holiness.
