And war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels fought back, but they were defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. The great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world — he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
Revelation 12:7-9
The St. Michael Chaplet guides us in asking the Archangel to protect us in the battles of life, whether physical, spiritual, or emotional.
Table of Contents
- What is the St. Michael Chaplet?
- Why pray the St. Michael Chapet?
- When to pray the St. Michael Chaplet?
- How to pray the St. Michael Chaplet
- Related Prayers
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What is the St. Michael Chaplet?
A chaplet is a personal devotion, often prayed with a set of prayer beads, though a set is not necessary for prayer. For example, the Rosary is a chaplet. St. Michael, who we know as a spiritual warrior, is an Archangel — a chief angel of the Church.
Historical background
We trace the history of this chaplet back to Servant of God, Antonia d’Astonac. The Portuguese Carmelite nun received a vision of St. Michael the Archangel in the 18th century. St. Michael urged Antonia to make nine salutations to the nine Choirs of Angels, promising his protection and the care of one angel from each of the Choirs. For those who pray the chaplet daily, St. Michael, along with the angels, promises protection through their life on earth and after.
Pope Pius approved Antonia’s vision and the Chaplet of St. Michael in 1851.
Different than the Prayer to St. Michael
While the Chaplet is quite popular, the shorter St. Michael Prayer is one of the most well-known intercessory prayers in the Christian world. Pope Leo XIII wrote the prayer after having a vision while celebrating Mass. The prayer, included below, similarly asks St. Michael to intercede on our behalf and always protect us in battle:
Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle.
Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil;
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray;
And do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.
Both the prayer and the Chaplet guide us in asking for St. Michael the Archangel’s intercession in the battles we face as individuals, communities, and the Church.
Why pray the St. Michael Chaplet?
We learn in the Book of Revelation that St. Michael the Archangel is a spiritual warrior who defends us against Satan and the powers of evil. The St. Michael Chaplet helps us recognize St. Michael’s ability and desire to protect us and asks him to intercede in our lives in times of struggle.
Ultimately, we pray the St. Michael Chaplet to gain the Archangel’s protection in battle, to strengthen our bodies and souls against the powers of evil, and to grow in humility through greater reliance on God and less on ourselves.
When to pray the St. Michael Chaplet?
People often turn to the St. Michael Chaplet in times of distress, fear, or temptation. Times when we struggle to find the words asking for God’s help.
Turn to St. Michael whenever going through a “battle” of your own. Ask him to intercede on your behalf and protect you.
You can also pray this Chaplet on the Feast Day of St. Michael the Archangel: September 29th.
On Hallow, Jim Caviezel guides us through a nine-day prayer of the St. Michael Chaplet, in which we honor the Archangel and the nine choirs of angels for nine days.
How to pray the St. Michael Chaplet
Time needed: 5 minutes
How to pray the St. Michael Chaplet
- Call on God to be present with you.
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, world without end. - Make the Nine Salutations in honor of the nine Choirs of Angels. After each salutation, pray one Our Father and three Hail Marys.
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.
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.
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.
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.
By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Virtues, may the Lord preserve us from evil and falling into temptation. Amen.
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.
By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Principalities, may God fill our souls with a true spirit of obedience. Amen.
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.
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 St. Michael the Archangel.
Our Father, who art in heaven, …
- Say one Our Father in honor of St. Gabriel the Archangel.
Our Father, who art in heaven, …
- Say one Our Father in honor of St. Raphael the Archangel.
Our Father, who art in heaven, …
- Say one Our Father in honor of your Guardian Angel.
Our Father, who art in heaven, …
- Conclude your time with God and St. Michael the Archangel 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, 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.
We invite you to pray the St. Michael Chaplet with us on Hallow. Jim Caviezel, the actor who played Jesus in The Passion of Christ, guides us in the St. Michael Chaplet on Hallow.
God Bless!