A Rosary of Saint Michael and the Archangels

Angels transcend every religion, every philosophy, every creed. In fact angels
have no religion as we know it...their existence precedes every religious system
that has ever existed on earth.
St. Thomas Aquinas
Archangels and angels have places in all the worlds religious and spiritual traditions as helpers
to mankind. In many societies and cultures, guardian angels are seen as being particularly close
to specific individuals over whom they keep a watchful eye. Archangels in particular are seen as
possessing vast dominion over vast reaches of creation, and as well are seen as able to pay
attention to individual needs.
Angels and Archangels do not possess physical bodies as humans do, yet are apparently capable
of appearing quite solid and quite human looking when the occasion requires such an appearance
see, for example, the story of Lot. In modern times stories abound about people appearing
literallyout of nowhere to help a stranded person and who disappear instantly upon completing
their mission.
In the Old Testament angels were described as the messengers from God, being used for that
purpose in many stories, bringing news, help and inspiration to many people. The Old Testament
describes only two orders, or classes, of angels: The Seraphim and the Cherubim.
In the New Testament Paul adds seven new orders. His list includesin order of importance or
rankSeraphim, Cherubim, Thrones, Dominations, Virtues, Powers, Principalities, Archangels
and Angels. Archangels and Angels have a specific mission to the Earth and all who live upon it,
while the other choirs of celestial beings have responsibilities for other aspects of creation.
The highest place of honor in the west in given to Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael.
Legends and scripturesboth Christian and Muslimdescribe many other Archangels and their
duties.
This rosary of the Archangels and the orders (or choirs) of angels is dedicated to calling upon the
influence of these powers of nature and servants of the Divine to bring to us their special
blessings and to ask for their help in bringing the blessings of God to our lives. Raphael, Gabriel
and Michael are represented here. Each is described briefly.

MICHAEL
Archangel Michael is said to be the highest of the Archangelic Host.. With Gabriel, Michael is
the only angel mentioned in the Bible. In the Aggadah, he is seen as the guardian of Israel. He is
the head of all the great warring angels who do battle against evil and against that which takes
people away from their path of Unity to God. He is therefore depicted as a warrior with large

and powerful wings as well as a flaming sword, and sometimes pictured with a spear as well.
Associated with justice and balance, he is often shown holding the scales of justice.
The name Michael (Micha-el) means "Who is like to God? Another interpretation is He who
is like God. Michael has been especially honored and invoked as patron and protector by the
Church from the time of the Apostles, and although he is always called "the Archangel," the
Greek Fathers and many others place him over all the Angels - as Prince of the Seraphim.
Michael is the protection Archangel, patron of policemen and bringer of the gift of patience.
Angel of careers, courage, achievements, ambitions, motivation, and life tasks. He is the great
prince charged to defend the people.
RAPHAEL
Raphael, "God has healed", is one of the seven chief angels. He is known as the Semitic God of
Air and one of the four presences set over all the diseases and all the wounds of the children of
men.
Raphael is charged to heal the earth and has a special charge of protecting the young, the
innocent, and travelers. He is the regent of the sun, Patron of Travelers, Chief of the order of
virtues and overseer of the evening winds. He is the angel of prayer, love, joy, providence,
healing, light, science, and knowledge. He is associated with Spring and rebirth
Besides Raphael, Michael and Gabriel are the only Archangels mentioned by name in the bible.
Raphael's name means "God heals." This identity came about because of the biblical story which
claims that he "healed" the earth when it was defiled by the sins of the fallen angels in the
apocryphal book of Enoch. Raphael is also identified as the angel who moved the waters of the
healing sheep pool. He is also the patron of the blind, of happy meetings, of nurses, of physicians
and of travelers.
GABRIEL
The name Gabriel means "Man of God" or "God Has Shown Himself Mightily." It appears first
in the prophecies of Daniel in the Old Testament. This Angel announced to Daniel the prophecy
of the seventy weeks, (Daniel 9, 21-27). His name also occurs in the apocryphal book of Henoch.
He was the Angel who appeared to Zechariah to announce the birth of St. John the Baptist (Luke
1, 11), the messenger Angel who announced to Mary that she would bear a Son who would be
conceived of the Holy Spirit, Son of the Most High, and the Savior of the world, (Luke 1, 26),
and the angel who buried Moses.
Gabriel is one of the two highest ranking angels as well as one of the three Archangels
mentioned in the bible by name. He is the Archangel of annunciation, humanity, resurrection,
heavenly mercy, revelation, truth, and hope. He is considered the bringer of news and heralds the
revealing of answers. He is the patron saint of communications and postal workers.

It was Gabriel who dictated the Koran to Muhammad, and according to Babylonian legend,
Gabriel fell from grace for not obeying a command exactly as given and remained outside the
heavenly curtain for a time.
According to legend, it is Gabriel who will blow the horn announcing the second coming of
Christ
Prayer of Intention
We ask of your angel host to guide us and companion us in our journeys, to share in our joy, to
strengthen us and give us your blessings all the days of our lives.
General Instructions
1. Holding the cross in the right hand (if right handed), with the rest of the rosary in the left
hand, bless yourself with the Invocation:
D In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
2. Holding the cross in the right hand (if right handed), and with the rest of the rosary draped
across the left hand, begin with this invocation:
Leader

Response

Heavenly God

Bless us with your

Archangel Michael

Holy Trinity

Bless us with your

Archangel Raphael

God, our Mother

Bless us with your

Archangel Gabriel

God, our Father

Bless us with love for those

who aid and help us.

God, the Son

Bless us with gratitude for

your angelic servants

God, the Holy Spirit

Bless us with gratitude for

those who--known and
unknown to us--serve us in
the Lord.

Amen. D
3.

On the first bead after the cross say the Our Father:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on
earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we
forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
Alternate Our Father translated from the Aramaic (see introduction)
O Birther! Father-Mother of the Cosmos, focus your light within usmake it useful. Create
your reign of unity now; Your one desire acts with ours, as in all light, so in all forms. Grant
what we need each day in bread and insight. Loose the cords of mistakes binding us, as we
release the strand we hold of others guilt. Dont let surface things delude us, but free us from
what holds us back. From you is born all ruling will, the power and the life to do, the song that
beautifies all; from age to age it renews. Amen.
4. On the next three beads say the AVE MARIA:
Hail Mary, full of grace; the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is
the fruit of thy womb. Amen.
5. After the third AVE MARIA hold the chain and say the GLORIA PATRI
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is how
and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
6. Name the blessing and read the prayer that follow each one. Begin with the OUR FATHER
on the bead just before the medal and the AVE MARIA on the next ten beads following the
medal. On the chain following these ten beads, say the GLORIA PATRI.
Then, name the next blessing and proceed exactly as above until all the mysteries have been said
that is say the OUR FATHER on the single bead, then the ten AVE MARIAs, then on the chain
the GLORIA PATRI, then the next blessing.

First BlessingCharity

Prayer:
By the intercession and blessings of Archangel Michael and the celestial Choir of Seraphim, may
the Divine Love of God make us to burn with the fire of perfect charity. Amen.

Second BlessingHealing
Prayer:
By the intercession and blessings of Archangel Michael and the celestial Choir of Cherubim,
may we be healed and strengthened in body, mind and spirit, that we may perfectly manifest the
gifts that God has given us with joy and clarity.
Third BlessingNew Beginnings
Prayer:
By the intercession and blessings of Archangel Raphael and the celestial Choir of Thrones, may
God in Love infuse into our hearts a true and sincere spirit of humility, accepting new beginnings
and changes in our lives with grace. Amen.

Fourth BlessingService
Prayer:
By the intercession and blessings of Archangel Raphael and the celestial choir of Dominions,
may the Lord give us grace to serve in the great work of gathering all to God.

Fifth Blessing--Beauty
Prayer:
By the intercession and Blessings of Archangel Gabriel and the celestial choir of Powers, may
we be blessed with the appreciation of beauty in all things, and learn to see beauty in all people
and in all of creation. Amen.

Sixth Blessing--Forgiveness

Prayer:
By the intercession and blessings of Archangel Gabriel and the celestial Choir of Virtues, may
we be blessed with forgiveness for ourselves and others, keeping all people everywhere always
alive in our hearts in love and prayer before God. Amen.
Seventh Blessing--Dedication
Prayer:
By the intercession and blessing of Michael, Gabriel and Raphael and the celestial Choir of
Principalities, may God fill our souls with a true spirit of spiritual power, filling us with a sense
of clarity and dedication to our path of unity in God. Amen.

BENEDICTION
When the center medal is reached, this last prayer is said:
By the intercession and blessings of Archangel Michael and the celestial Choir of Archangels,
and by the special blessings and ministrations of the countless angels and in particular our
tireless guardian angels, may be protected, nurtured, guided and loved in this life that we may
offer the same to others. Amen.