The Chaplet of St. Michael the Archangel

The history of this Chaplet goes back to a devout Servant of God Antonia d'Astonac, a holy Carmelite nun, of the convent of Vetralla in the diocese of Viterbo, who had a vision of St. Michael. The Archangel Michael revealed to her that he would be well pleased by his bringing into use the following prayers in his honour and in honour of all the angelic host; and that he would repay those who practised this devotion with signal favours, particularly in such times as the Catholic Church should experience some special trial.

He told Antonia to honour him by nine salutations to the nine Choirs of Angels. St. Michael promised that whoever would practise this devotion in his honour would have, when approaching Holy Commmunion, an escort of nine angels chosen from each of the nine Choirs. In addition, for those who would recite the Chaplet daily, he promised his continual assistance and that of all the holy angels during life.

This private revelation and prayers were approved by Pope Pius IX by a decree of the S. Congr. of Rites, dated August 8, 1851.

METHOD OF PRACTISING THIS DEVOTION.

Let every one, according to his ability, begin with an act of sincere contrition, kneeling before a representation of the holy Archangel; then let him say with devotion the following salutations:

V. O God, come to my assistance.
R. O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father, etc.



FIRST SALUTATION.

At the intercession of St. Michael and the heavenly choir of the Seraphim, may it please God to make us worthy to receive into our hearts the fire of His perfect charity. Amen.

One Pater noster and three Ave Maria’s, to the First Angelic Choir.

SECOND SALUTATION.

At the intercession of St. Michael and the heavenly choir of the Cherubim, may God grant us grace to abandon the ways of sin, and run the race of Christian perfection. Amen.
One Pater noster and three Ave Maria’s, to the Second Angelic Choir.


THIRD SALUTATION.

At the intercession of St. Michael and the sacred choir of the Thrones, may it please God to infuse into our hearts a true and earnest spirit of humility. Amen.

One Pater noster and three Ave Maria’s, to the Third Angelic Choir.


FOURTH SALUTATION.

At the intercession of St. Michael and the heavenly choir of the Dominations, may it please God to grant us grace to have dominion over our senses, and to correct our depraved passions. Amen.

One Pater noster and three Ave Maria’s, to the Fourth Angelic Choir.


FIFTH SALUTATION.

At the intercession of St. Michael and the heavenly choir of the Powers, may God vouchsafe to keep our souls from the wiles and temptations of the devil. Amen.

One Pater noster and three Ave Maria’s, to the Fifth Angelic Choir.


SIXTH SALUTATION.

At the intercession of St. Michael and the choir of the admirable celestial Virtues, may our Lord keep us from falling into temptation, and deliver us from evil. Amen.
One Pater noster and three Ave Maria’s, to the Sixth Angelic Choir.


SEVENTH SALUTATION.

At the intercession of St. Michael and the heavenly choir of the Principalities, may it please God to fill our souls with the spirit of true and hearty obedience. Amen.

One Pater noster and three Ave Maria’s, to the Seventh Angelic Choir.


EIGHTH SALUTATION.

At the intercession of St. Michael and the heavenly choir of Archangels, may it please God to grant its the gift of perseverance in the faith and in all good works, that we may thereby be enabled to attain unto the glory of Paradise. Amen.

One Pater noster and three Ave Maria’s, to the Eighth Angelic Choir.


NINTH SALUTATION.

At the intercession of St. Michael and the Heavenly choir of Angels, may God vouchsafe to grant us the safe-conduct of the holy Angels through life, and after death a happy entrance into the everlasting glory of heaven. Amen.
One Pater noster and three Ave Maria’s, to the Ninth Angelic Choir.


Then say four Pater noster's in conclusion; the first to St. Michael, the second to St. Gabriel, the third to St. Raphael, the fourth to your Angel Guardian.



This exercise then ends with the following Antiphon.



ANTIPHON.



Michael, glorious Prince, chief and champion of the heavenly host, guardian of the souls of men, conqueror of the rebel angels, minister in the house of God, our worthy captain under Jesus Christ, endowed with superhuman excellence and virtue; vouchsafe to free us all from every evil, who with full confidence have recourse to thee; and by thy powerful protection enable us to make progress every day in the faithful service of our God.



V. Pray for us, most blessed Michael, prince of the Church of Jesus Christ.
R. That we may be made worthy of His promises.



PRAYER.



Almighty and eternal God, who in thine own marvellous goodness and pity didst, for the common salvation of man, choose the glorious Archangel Michael to be the prince of Thy Church; make us worthy, we pray Thee, to be delivered by his beneficent protection from all our enemies, that at the hour of our death no one of them may approach to harm us, and that by the same Archangel Michael we may be introduced into the presence of Thy high and heavenly Majesty. Through the merits of the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.



Indulgences granted by Pope Pius IX in 1851
 
i. An indulgence of seven years and seven quarantines every time the Chaplet is said.
ii. An indulgence of 100 days daily to any one who carries this Chaplet about him, or kisses the medal with the representation of the holy angels appended to the said Chaplet.
iii. A plenary indulgence once a month to every one who says daily this Chaplet, on any one day when, after Confession and Communion, he shall pray for the exaltation of our holy Mother the Church and the safety of the Sovereign Pontiff.
iv. A plenary indulgence, with the conditions above named:
1. The Feast of the Apparition of St. Michael. May 18.
2. The Dedication of St. Michael. September 29.
3. St. Gabriel the Archangel. March 18.
4. St. Raphael the Archangel. October 24.
5. Holy Angel Guardians. October 2.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaplet_of_Saint_Michael
http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/prayers/chaplet-of-st-michael.htm#ixzz1ZM8Ja4kP
http://www.premier.net/~avemarie/St_Michael.htm