✝ Catholic Church Times
Catholic Chaplet

Chaplet of St. Michael the Archangel

Beads: 9 groups of 3 beads (one per angelic choir) + 1 large bead per group; crucifix

When to pray: Feast of St. Michael (September 29); in times of spiritual combat; daily for protection against evil.

Private revelation to Antonia d'Astonac, Portugal; approved for use by Pope Pius IX, 1851

About this Devotion

The Chaplet of St. Michael the Archangel is rooted in a private revelation reported by a Portuguese Carmelite laywoman, Antonia d'Astonac, in the eighteenth century, in which St. Michael the Archangel revealed the nine choirs of angels and invited the faithful to honor them through nine salutations. Pope Pius IX, through the Sacred Congregation of Rites, granted an indulgence to those who devoutly prayed the chaplet, elevating it from private to publically recognized devotion in 1851.

The structure of the chaplet mirrors the traditional teaching of Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite and St. Thomas Aquinas on the hierarchy of angels: the nine choirs arranged in three triads — Seraphim, Cherubim, and Thrones; Dominions, Powers, and Virtues; Principalities, Archangels, and Angels. Each salutation honors one choir and asks for St. Michael's intercession. EWTN and the Catholic Encyclopedia (New Advent) both document the text and history of this chaplet.

How to Pray Chaplet of St. Michael the Archangel

You will need: 9 groups of 3 beads (one per angelic choir) + 1 large bead per group; crucifix

1
Begin with the Sign of the Cross and a brief prayer asking for St. Michael's intercession.
2
Pray the First Salutation, honoring 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.' Then pray 1 Our Father and 3 Hail Marys.
3
Pray the Second Salutation, honoring 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.' Then pray 1 Our Father and 3 Hail Marys.
4
Pray the Third Salutation, honoring the Thrones: 'By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Thrones, may the Lord infuse into our hearts the spirit of true and sincere humility. Amen.' Then pray 1 Our Father and 3 Hail Marys.
5
Pray the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Salutations for the Dominions, Powers, and Virtues in the same pattern (1 Our Father and 3 Hail Marys each), asking for grace to govern our senses, perseverance in faith, and preservation from evil.
6
Pray the Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Salutations for the Principalities, Archangels, and Angels (1 Our Father and 3 Hail Marys each), asking for preservation from temptation, guidance in perseverance, and angelic guardianship.
7
After the nine salutations, pray 4 Our Fathers in honor of St. Michael, St. Gabriel, St. Raphael, and your Guardian Angel.
8
Close with the Concluding Prayer to St. Michael: '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. Amen.'

Prayers Used in This Chaplet

The full texts of the prayers prayed on each bead:

Each Salutation (example: 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.

Source: https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/chaplet-of-st-michael-the-archangel-362

Concluding Prayer to St. Michael

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. Amen.

Source: https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/chaplet-of-st-michael-the-archangel-362

Promises & Indulgences

Pope Pius IX, through the Sacred Congregation of Rites in 1851, granted an indulgence of remission of a portion of temporal punishment to those who devoutly pray this chaplet. The document approving the chaplet also promised that the nine choirs of angels would accompany the devout soul in Holy Communion (per EWTN's presentation of the approved text).

Prayers used in this chaplet: Our Father · Hail Mary

Other Catholic Chaplets

Primary Sources