CATHOLIC FAITHLINK: “Meaning of the Saint Andrew Christmas Novena” – ChristmasNovena.com

Advent Wreath with Candles Lit, With Hand of Person in Robe Lighting Center Candle

“Saint Andrew’s feast day is today! This feast is the marker that determines the start of Advent. The first Sunday of Advent begins on the Sunday closest to (or on) November 30th, St Andrew’s feast day. That explains the first part of the Saint Andrew Christmas Novena’s name. The second part simply refers to when the novena ends. On Christmas. So the longest way of saying it is: The Saint Andrew to Christmas Day Novena, but it is also known simply as the Christmas Novena for short. …”

CATHOLIC DEVOTIONS: Saint Michael the Archangel Chaplet

Statue of Saint Michael the Archangel With Sword Raised, Stomping on the Devil

“In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit

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, Amen.

By the intercession of Saint Michael the Archangel, and the Celestial Choir of Seraphim, may the Lord make us worthy to burn with the Fire of perfect Charity. Amen.

[Our Father, three Hail Marys]

By the intercession of Saint Michael the Archangel, 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.

[Our Father, three Hail Marys]

By the intercession of Saint Michael the Archangel, and the Celestial Choir of Thrones, May the Lord fill us with a true Spirit of Humility. Amen.

[Our Father, three Hail Marys]

By the intercession of Saint Michael the Archangel, and the Celestial Choir of Dominions, May the Lord grant us the Grace to govern our senses and subdue any unruly passions. Amen.

[Our Father, three Hail Marys]

By the intercession of Saint Michael the Archangel, and the Celestial Choir of Powers, May the Lord protect our Souls against the wickedness and snares of the devil. Amen.

[Our Father, three Hail Marys]

By the intercession of Saint Michael the Archangel, and the Celestial Choir of Virtues, May the Lord protect us from evil, and from falling into temptation. Amen.

[Our Father, three Hail Marys]

By the intercession of Saint Michael the Archangel, and the Celestial Choir of Principalities, May the Lord fill us with a true Spirit of Obedience to God. Amen.

[Our Father, three Hail Marys]

By the intercession of Saint Michael the Archangel, and the Celestial Choir of Principalities, May the Lord fill us with a true Spirit of Obedience to God. Amen.

[Our Father, three Hail Marys]

By the intercession of Saint Michael the Archangel, and the Celestial Choir of Archangels, May the Lord grant us Perseverence in Faith and in all Good Works, so that we may attain the Glory of Paradise. Amen.

[Our Father, three Hail Marys]

By the intercession of Saint Michael the Archangel, and the Celestial Choir of Angels, May the Lord grant us to be protected by them in this mortal, and conducted in the Life to Come to Heaven. Amen.

[Our Father, three Hail Marys]

Pray one “Our Father” each, in honor of …

  • Saint Michael the Archangel
  • Saint Gabriel the Archangel
  • Saint Raphael the Archangel
  • One’s Guardian Angel

O Glorious Saint Michael the Archangel, Chief and Commander of the Heavenly Hosts, Guardian of Souls, Vanquisher of rebel spirits, Servant in the House of the Divine God and our Admirable Conductor, you who shine with Excellence and Superhuman Virtue, deliver us from all evil, we who turn to you with confidence, and enable us by your gracious Protection, to serve God more and more Faithfully every day.

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 Saint Michael Prince of Your Church, grant we beseech Thee, that we may 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, Your Son, Our Lord, Amen.”


Additional Thoughts

Some printings have the four Our Fathers earlier, right after the “Glory Be.”

It is possible to obtain a Rosary-like set of beads designed to facilitate the praying of this Chaplet (such as depicted by the images shown to the right above, which link to some ads). Typically they include a Saint Michael the Archangel medal, with the Blessed Mother or a Guardian Angel on the reverse, four beads for the (first/last) four Our Fathers, and then nine subsets of beads, going around in a circle, corresponding to the nine subparts of the Chaplet.

EWTN traces the Saint Michael the Archangel Chaplet to Antonia d’Astonac, who had a vision of St. Michael the Archangel telling her to honor him with nine salutations to the nine Choirs of Angels.

Saint Michael the Archangel promised continual assistance to those reciting this Chaplet daily, as well as promising, for anyone reciting it, an escort of Holy Angels when that person receives Holy Communion.

Note, of course, that a focus of the Chaplet is to ask from God the various virtues and other intentions the Chaplet sets out, and to seek Angelic intercession and assistance.

In addition, there are the other requests prayed for in its various prayers, including the intentions always sought within the Lord’s Prayer and the Hail Mary themselves. For example, in each Our Father we ask God the Father to forgive our sins, provide our daily bread and so forth.

Saint Michael the Archangel is referenced in Revelation 12 as leading an Army of Holy Angels in victory over the powers of evil. He also is referenced in Daniel 10 and Jude 1.

CATHOLIC FAITHLINK: “Novena to St. Joseph” – EWTN

File Photo of Statue of Saint Joseph Holding the Infant Jesus

“Saint Joseph, I, your unworthy child, greet you. You are the faithful protector and intercessor of all who love and venerate you. You know that I have special confidence in you and that, after Jesus and Mary, I place all my hope of salvation in you, for you are especially powerful with God and will never abandon your faithful servants. Therefore I humbly invoke you and commend myself, with all who are dear to me and all that belong to me, to your intercession. …”