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Prayers · To the Angels

Angelic Crown of St Michael

A devotion revealed to the Portuguese Carmelite Blessed Antonia of Astonac (17th c.) and approved by Pius IX in 1851. It is prayed on a proper chaplet composed of nine salutations — one for each of the nine choirs of angels enumerated in patristic tradition (cf. Pseudo-Dionysius, Celestial Hierarchy; St Thomas, Summa I q. 108) — followed by four Our Fathers in honour of St Michael, St Gabriel, St Raphael, and the Guardian Angel.

At the beginning

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.

Salutation to each angelic choir (once each)

After each of the nine salutations below, an Our Father and three Hail Marys are said.

  1. Seraphim. By the intercession of St Michael and the celestial choir of Seraphim, may it please God to inflame our hearts with the holy fire of his perfect charity. Amen.
  2. Cherubim. By the intercession of St Michael and the celestial choir of Cherubim, may God grant us the grace to abandon the way of sin and to advance in Christian perfection. Amen.
  3. Thrones. By the intercession of St Michael and the celestial choir of Thrones, may God infuse into our hearts the spirit of true and sincere humility. Amen.
  4. Dominions. By the intercession of St Michael and the celestial choir of Dominions, may God grant us the grace to master our senses and to correct our depraved passions. Amen.
  5. Powers. By the intercession of St Michael and the celestial choir of Powers, may God deign to protect our souls against the snares and temptations of the devil. Amen.
  6. Virtues. By the intercession of St Michael and the celestial choir of Virtues, may God preserve us from yielding to temptation and free us from the evils of the body. Amen.
  7. Principalities. By the intercession of St Michael and the celestial choir of Principalities, may God fill our souls with the spirit of true and sincere obedience. Amen.
  8. Archangels. By the intercession of St Michael and the celestial choir of Archangels, may God grant us the gift of perseverance in faith and in all good works, that we may attain the glory of paradise. Amen.
  9. Angels. By the intercession of St Michael and the celestial choir of Guardian Angels, may God grant that they may keep us in this mortal life and lead us to the eternal glory of heaven. Amen.

Four closing Our Fathers

  1. Our Father in honour of the glorious prince St Michael.
  2. Our Father in honour of the glorious St Gabriel.
  3. Our Father in honour of the glorious St Raphael.
  4. Our Father in honour of the Guardian Angel.

Closing antiphon

St Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, that we may not perish in the dreadful judgement.

V. Pray for us, glorious St Michael, Prince of the Church of Jesus Christ.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray

Almighty and eternal God, who in your ineffable goodness and mercy, for the salvation of men, chose the glorious Archangel Michael to be prince of your Church: make us worthy, we beseech you, to be delivered from all our enemies by his beneficent protection, that none may afflict us at the hour of death, and that we may deserve to be led by him into the august presence of your most high and divine Majesty. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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