Novena to Saint Michael and the Nine Choirs of Angels
By Blessed Pope Pius IX | 25 September 2024
From the testimony of the pious archdeacon of Évreux, Monsieur Boudon, the most ardent apostle of the holy angels in the seventeenth century, this practice of devotion obtains extraordinary graces. From it, he saw “marvellous things … and the power of demons ruined in matters of importance”. He attests, besides, that it is a very efficacious means to obtain succour from Heaven in public calamities and in particular needs.
The Novena to St Michael and the Nine Choirs of Angels can be made at any time, in common or individually. No formula is prescribed. We simply propose the following prayers. One can, if one prefers, adopt others.
Under ordinary conditions, a plenary indulgence can be gained during the course of the Novena (on the day of one’s choosing), or in the eight days following.
† Pius IX, 26 November 1876
EACH DAY
➤ Recite the Confiteor
➤ Formulate your request
➤ Say the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be three times.
➤ Finish with one of the following prayers
FIRST DAY
In honour of the Holy Seraphim
➤ Recite the Confiteor
I confess to Almighty God,
to Blessed Mary ever Virgin,
to Blessed Michael the Archangel,
to Blessed John the Baptist,
to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul and to all the Saints,
that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word and deed;
(strike your breast thrice)
through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault.
Therefore I beseech Blessed Mary ever Virgin,
Blessed Michael the Archangel,
Blessed John the Baptist,
the holy Apostles Peter and Paul and all the Saints,
to pray to the Lord our God for me.
Amen.
➤ Formulate your request
➤ Say the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be three times
➤ Exorcism of Leo XIII
Most Glorious Prince of the Heavenly Host, Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in the battle against Principalities and Powers, against the dominators of this world of darkness, against the wicked spirits spread throughout the air. Come to the aid of men whom God has made in the image of His Own Nature and has redeemed at great price from the tyranny of the devil. Amen.
SECOND DAY
In honour of the Holy Cherubim
➤ Recite the Confiteor
I confess to Almighty God,
to Blessed Mary ever Virgin,
to Blessed Michael the Archangel,
to Blessed John the Baptist,
to the holy apostles Peter and Paul and to all the saints,
that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word and deed;
(strike your breast thrice)
through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault.
Therefore I beseech Blessed Mary ever Virgin,
Blessed Michael the Archangel,
Blessed John the Baptist,
the holy Apostles Peter and Paul and all the Saints,
to pray to the Lord our God for me.
Amen.
➤ Formulate your request
➤ Say the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be three times
➤ After a fifteenth century manuscript
Saint Michael, Prince of the Host of Angels, I invoke you; hear me. I beg you to take my soul under your most holy guard on the Last Day and to conduct it to the place of refreshment, peace and repose, where the souls the saints await the Judgment to come and the glorious Resurrection in ineffable joy. Whether I speak or am silent, whether I watch, work or rest, keep me in the accomplishment of all my works, in all the actions of my life. Preserve me from the temptations of Demons and from the pains of Hell. Amen.
THIRD DAY
In honour of the Holy Thrones
➤ Recite the Confiteor
I confess to Almighty God,
to Blessed Mary ever Virgin,
to Blessed Michael the Archangel,
to Blessed John the Baptist,
to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul and to all the Saints,
that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word and deed;
(strike your breast thrice)
through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault.
Therefore I beseech Blessed Mary ever Virgin,
Blessed Michael the Archangel,
Blessed John the Baptist,
the holy Apostles Peter and Paul and all the Saints,
to pray to the Lord our God for me.
Amen.
➤ Formulate your request
➤ Say the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be three times
➤Prayer of St Leo XIII
Great defender of the Christian people, Saint Michael the Archangel, to fulfil worthily the mission confided to you to defend the Church, to strike down heresy, to exterminate schisms and to confound unbelief, multiply your victories over the infernal monsters who wish to destroy our faith. May the Church of Jesus Christ welcome new faithful and gather together entire kingdoms, so that She may people Heaven with elect souls, for the greatest glory of the Divine Redeemer, to whom you yourself owe your triumphs, your merits and your eternal felicity. Amen.
FOURTH DAY
In honour of the Holy Dominions
➤ Recite the Confiteor
I confess to Almighty God,
to Blessed Mary ever Virgin,
to Blessed Michael the Archangel,
to Blessed John the Baptist,
to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul and to all the Saints,
that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word and deed;
(strike your breast thrice)
through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault.
Therefore I beseech Blessed Mary ever Virgin,
Blessed Michael the Archangel,
Blessed John the Baptist,
the holy Apostles Peter and Paul and all the Saints,
to pray to the Lord our God for me.
Amen.
➤ Formulate your request
➤ Say the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be three times
➤ Twelfth Century Hymn
O Saint Michael, you who are the prince and the standard-bearer of the good angels, assist me always and, in your bounty, save me. From the legions of the angel of darkness, preserve me, so that, under your conduct, I may share the light of the good angels. Be my defender before the throne of the Supreme Judge, plead my cause and conjure the wrath of the Just Avenger. By you, may prosperity be given to my works, to my repose, to my days, to my nights; may my thoughts be always ready for the works of God. Amen.
FIFTH DAY
In honour of the Holy Powers
➤ Recite the Confiteor
I confess to Almighty God,
to Blessed Mary ever Virgin,
to Blessed Michael the Archangel,
to Blessed John the Baptist,
to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul and to all the Saints,
that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word and deed;
(strike your breast thrice)
through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault.
Therefore I beseech Blessed Mary ever Virgin,
Blessed Michael the Archangel,
Blessed John the Baptist,
the holy Apostles Peter and Paul and all the Saints,
to pray to the Lord our God for me.
Amen.
➤ Formulate your request
➤ Say the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be three times
➤ Exorcism of Leo XIII
Saint Michael the Archangel, you whom Holy Church venerates as her guardian and protector, to you the Lord has confided the mission of introducing redeemed souls into heavenly happiness. Beseech therefore the God of peace to crush Satan under our feet, so that he may no longer keep men in his chains or harm the Church. Present our prayers to the Most High so that, without delay, the Lord may have mercy on us. Yourself seize the dragon, the ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and throw him bound into the abyss, so that he may no longer seduce the nations. Amen.
SIXTH DAY
In honour of the Holy Virtues
➤ Recite the Confiteor
I confess to Almighty God,
to Blessed Mary ever Virgin,
to Blessed Michael the Archangel,
to Blessed John the Baptist,
to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul and to all the Saints,
that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word and deed;
(strike your breast thrice)
through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault.
Therefore I beseech Blessed Mary ever Virgin,
Blessed Michael the Archangel,
Blessed John the Baptist,
the holy Apostles Peter and Paul and all the Saints,
to pray to the Lord our God for me.
Amen.
➤ Formulate your request
➤ Say the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be three times
➤ From a Response of Coutances
Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, that we may not perish on the day of the dreadful judgment. Most glorious prince, remember us and beseech the Son of God for us, always and everywhere. When you fought the dragon, a voice was heard in Heaven which said: “Hail, honour and glory to the Almighty God!” The sea rose up, the earth trembled when you descended from Heaven. Come to the aid of the people of God. Amen.
SEVENTH DAY
In honour of the Holy Principalities
➤ Recite the Confiteor
I confess to Almighty God,
to Blessed Mary ever Virgin,
to Blessed Michael the Archangel,
to Blessed John the Baptist,
to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul and to all the Saints,
that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word and deed;
(strike your breast thrice)
through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault.
Therefore I beseech Blessed Mary ever Virgin,
Blessed Michael the Archangel,
Blessed John the Baptist,
the holy Apostles Peter and Paul and all the Saints,
to pray to the Lord our God for me.
Amen.
➤ Formulate your request
➤ Say the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be three times
➤ Prayer of Saint Sophronius
O Saint Michael! Thrice-holy prince of the sacred host, charged by God to command and lead the angelic phalanxes, most worthy of all cult and of all praise: illuminate my interior sense; fortify my poor heart agitated by the tempests of this life; elevate my mind, inclined towards the things of the Earth, towards the heights of heavenly wisdom; strengthen my staggering steps and do not permit me to abandon the path which leads to Heaven; heal the wounds of my soul; dissipate in me all the traces of the sufferings which engender my miseries and my misfortunes. Amen.
EIGHTH DAY
In honour of the Holy Archangels
➤ Recite the Confiteor
I confess to Almighty God,
to Blessed Mary ever Virgin,
to Blessed Michael the Archangel,
to Blessed John the Baptist,
to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul and to all the Saints,
that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word and deed;
(strike your breast thrice)
through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault.
Therefore I beseech Blessed Mary ever Virgin,
Blessed Michael the Archangel,
Blessed John the Baptist,
the holy Apostles Peter and Paul and all the Saints,
to pray to the Lord our God for me.
Amen.
➤ Formulate your request
➤ Say the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be three times
➤ Prayer of Venerable Philomena de Santa Colomba
Saint Michael the Archangel, who has for mission to collect our prayers, direct our combats and weigh our souls, I render homage to your beauty so like unto God’s that, other than his Eternal Word, no other Heavenly Spirit is comparable to you; to your power without limit in favour of those who are devoted to you; to your will, harmoniously united to that of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, for the good of mankind. Defend me against the enemies of my soul and of my body. Render sensible to me the consolation of your invisible assistance and the effects of your vigilant tenderness. Amen.
NINTH DAY
In honour of the Holy Angels
➤ Recite the Confiteor
I confess to Almighty God,
to Blessed Mary ever Virgin,
to Blessed Michael the Archangel,
to Blessed John the Baptist,
to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul and to all the Saints,
that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word and deed;
(strike your breast thrice)
through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault.
Therefore I beseech Blessed Mary ever Virgin,
Blessed Michael the Archangel,
Blessed John the Baptist,
the holy Apostles Peter and Paul and all the Saints,
to pray to the Lord our God for me.
Amen.
➤ Formulate your request
➤ Say the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be three times
➤ After an Ancient Formula of Prayer
Glorious Archangel Saint Michael, great zealot of the glory of God and protector of the Universal Church, you to whom the Almighty has confided the mission to receive souls when they leave the body and to present them to the most just Judge; deign to assist me in my final combat. Accompanied by my good guardian angel, come to my aid and chase far from me all infernal spirits; do not permit them to frighten me. Fortify me in faith, hope and charity so that my soul, carried by you to its Judge, may be introduced immediately to the place of repose, to reign there eternally with its Redeemer, in the society of the blessed spirits. Amen.