A PRAYER TO ST. MICHAEL.
GLORIOUS St. Michael, prince of the heavenly host, who standest always ready to give assistance to the people of God; who didst fight with the dragon, the old serpent, and didst cast him out of heaven, and now valiantly defendest the Church of God, that the gates of hell may never prevail against her: I earnestly entreat thee to assist me also, in the painful and dangerous conflict which I have to sustain against the same formidable foe. Be with me, O mighty prince! that I may courageously fight, and happily vanquish that proud dragon, Whom thou hast, by the divine power, so gloriously overcome, and whom our powerful king, Jesus Christ, has, in our nature, so completely overthrown; to the end, that, having triumphed over the enemy of my salvation, I may, with thee, and the holy Angels, praise the clemency of God, who, having refused mercy to the revolted Angels after their fall, has granted repentance and forgiveness to fallen man.
THE LITANY Of THE HOLY ANGELS.
LORD, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, queen of Angels, pray for us.
| St. Michael, who always wast the defender of the people of God, | Pray for us. | |
| St. Gabriel, who wast appointed to announce the incarnation of the eternal Word, | ||
| St. Raphael, the conductor of Tobias, | ||
| Holy Seraphim, | ||
| Holy Cherubim, | ||
| Holy Thrones, | ||
| Holy Dominations, | ||
| Holy Virtues, | ||
| Holy Powers, | ||
| Holy Principalities, | ||
| Holy Archangels, | ||
| Holy Angels, |
| O ye, who stand around the throne of the most High God, | Pray for us. | |
| O ye, who always see the face of the heavenly Father, | ||
| O ye, to whom: God has committed the care and guardianship of mankind, | ||
| O ye, who brought forth Lot and his family from the midst of the wicked, | ||
| O ye, who ministered to Christ in the desert, when he had put the tempter to flight, | ||
| O ye, who carried Lazarus into Abraham's bosom, | ||
| O ye, who often delivered the servants of God from prison and dangers, | ||
| O ye, who often comforted the holy martyrs in the midst of torments, | ||
| O ye who carry up, and offer to God the prayers of his servants, | ||
| O ye, who have joy in heaven upon one sinner's doing penance, | ||
| O ye, who have been set over nations, kingdoms and provinces, | ||
| O ye, who will attend upon Jesus Christ, when he comes to judge the world, | ||
| O ye, ministering Spirits, sent to minister for those who shall receive the inheritance of salvation, | ||
| O ye, Angels of the Lord, who are mighty in strength, and execute his word, hearkening to the voice of his orders, | ||
| O ye, the hosts of the Lord, his ministers, who do his will, | ||
| O thou, holy Angel, my faithful guardian, | ||
| Holy Angel, my guide and my friend, | ||
| Holy Angel, my counsellor and powerful intercessor, | ||
| Holy Angel, my protector and comforter, | ||
| All ye orders of blessed Spirits, | ||
| Be merciful unto us; Spare us, O Lord. | ||
| Be merciful unto us; Hear us, O Lord. | ||
| From all dangers, by thy holy Angels, O Lord, deliver us. | ||
| From the snares of the devil, by thy holy Angels, O Lord, deliver us. | ||
| From all sin, by thy holy Angels, O Lord, deliver us. | ||
| From a sudden and unprovided death, by thy holy Angels, O Lord, deliver us. | ||
| We sinners do beseech thee to hear us. |
| Through the intercession of thy holy Angels, | We beseech thee to hear us. | |
| That thou spare us, | ||
| That thou pardon us, | ||
| That thou vouchsafe to preserve and govern thy holy Church, | ||
| That thou vouchsafe to grant peace and unity to all Christian people, | ||
| That thou vouchsafe to give eternal rest to all the faithful departed, | ||
| That thou vouchsafe to send thy holy Angels to us at the hour of our death. | ||
| That thou vouchsafe, after our death, to receive our souls, through the hands of the Angels, into eternal bliss, | ||
| Son of God, | ||
| Lamb of God, &c. |
V. All ye holy orders of blessed Spirits, pray for us.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
LET US PRAY.
O GOD, who, in thy wonderful providence, hast been pleased to appoint thy holy Angels for our guardians; mercifully hear our prayers, and grant [that] we may rest secure under their protection, and enjoy their fellowship in heaven for ever: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.