In Thanksgiving for Heavenly Helpers

I pray all of you have a blessed, joyful Thanksgiving Day!  If you are interested in prayers of thanksgiving to God, the following links will provide you with such prayers on Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam.

• An Act of Adoration and Thanksgiving
• In Adoration and Thanksgiving

While I realize there are no feasts on the Church calendar this week dedicated to the angels, our heavenly helpers, I feel this week of Thanksgiving Day would be a fitting time to honor them and thank God for them.  It would be wonderful to thank the angels for their continual service to us.  At times we may remember our Guardian Angel who remains with us each moment of our lives, and sometimes the Archangels Sts. Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael are remembered in passing on their feasts.  However, do we truly recognize all they do for us? What of the other angels?

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God created nine choirs of angels, each angel being distinct from all others.  As Fr. Paul O'Sullivan wrote in All About the Angels,

"The Angels are pure spirits, the mighty Princes of Heaven who stand before God, gazing on His unveiled presence.  They are burning fires of love, filled to overflowing with the plenitude of happiness.  The Angels are the perfect images of God, mirrors of His Divine perfections, reflecting His love, His beauty, His Holiness, His Power, all His Divine attributes and perfections, but each Angel in his own special way.  No two Angels are alike, no two are equal.  God's perfections are infinite, and the countless millions of Angels reflect these perfections in a divinely marvelous way."

To learn more about the nine choirs of Angels, I encourage you to read the information on the following links, which are all part of the Catholic Tradition website.  The information is marvelous and helps the reader began to grasp the immensity of love and aid we receive from these heavenly helpers.

Nine Choirs of Angels: Section 1
Nine Choirs of Angels: Section 2
Nine Choirs of Angels: Section 3

May we take to heart the advice of Pope St. Leo the Great: "Make friends with the holy Angels." These heavenly servants of our Lord possess generosity and love for us like no other, remaining as our constant friends, our protectors against the malice of the devils, and upon our entrance into heaven, our companions amidst the glory of God for all eternity.  May we strive to remember all of the angels, on their specific feast days, on Tuesdays, which are devoted to them, and on the feast of our Lady, Queen of Angels, upcoming in December.  However, may we also strive to be aware of their presence throughout each day, recognizing their help and love, honoring them and honoring God through them.  The following prayer is one devotion we can use to honor all of God's angels.  The details behind the prayer is awe-inspiring, and the prayer is quite beautiful.

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St. Michael, appearing to the Servant of God, Antonia d' Astonac, revealed that he wished to be honored by nine salutations corresponding to the nine choirs of Angels and that an Our Father and three Hail Marys should be said in honor of each of these nine choirs. The Archangel promised that whoever would practice this devotion in his honor would have, when approaching the Holy Table at Mass, an escort of nine Angels from each of the nine choirs. In addition for the daily recital of these nine salutations, he promised his continual assistance and that of all the holy Angels during life and after death for those who have been holy enough to warrant a short Purgatory, deliverance for themselves and their relations.

The Chaplet of St. Michael and the Angels

V. O God, come to my assistance.
R. O Lord, make haste to help me. Glory Be.

I. Salutation --- 1 Our Father, 3 Hail Marys: in honor of the Seraphim.
By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Seraphim, may the Lord make us worthy to burn with the fire of perfect charity. Amen.

II. Salutation --- 1 Our Father, 3 Hail Marys: in honor of the Cherubim.
By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Cherubim, may the Lord grant us grace to leave the ways of wickedness and run in the paths of Christian perfection. Amen.

III. Salutation --- 1 Our Father, 3 Hail Marys: in honor of the Thrones.
By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Thrones, may the Lord infuse into our hearts a true and sincere spirit of humility. Amen.

IV. Salutation --- 1 Our Father, 3 Hail Marys: in honor of the Dominions.
By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir Dominions, may the Lord give us grace to govern our senses and subdue our unruly passions. Amen.

V. Salutation --- 1 Our Father, 3 Hail Marys: in honor of the Powers.
By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir Powers, may the Lord protect our souls against the snares and temptations of the devil. Amen.

VI. Salutation --- 1 Our Father, 3 Hail Marys: in honor of the Virtues.
By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Virtues, may the Lord preserve us from evil, and not allow us to fall into temptation. Amen.

VII. Salutation -- 1 Our Father, 3 Hail Marys: in honor of the Principalities.
By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Principalities, may God fill our souls with a true spirit of obedience. Amen.

VIII. Salutation -- 1 Our Father, 3 Hail Marys: in honor of the Archangels.
By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Archangels, may the Lord give us perseverance and Faith in all good works in order that we may gain the glory of Heaven. Amen.

IX. Salutation -- 1 Our Father, 3 Hail Marys: in honor of the Angels.
By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Angels, may the Lord grant us to be protected by them in this mortal life and conducted hereafter to the eternal glory. Amen.

Then Recite:
1 Our Father in honor of St. Michael.
1 Our Father in honor of St. Gabriel.
1 Our Father in honor of St. Raphael.
1 Our Father in honor of your Guardian Angel.

Invocation:
O glorious Prince St. Michael, Leader and Commander of the Heavenly Host, Guardian of souls, Vanquisher of rebel spirits, Servant in the house of the Divine King, and our glorious Guide, thou art brilliant in holiness and power.
Deliver us from all evil, for we turn to thee with confidence and enable us by thy gracious protection to serve God more faithfully everyday.
V. Pray for us O glorious St. Michael, Prince of the Church of Jesus Christ.
R. That we may be made worthy of His promises.

Let Us Pray.
Almighty and everlasting God, since in Thy infinite goodness and mercy Thou desireth the salvation of all men, Thou hast appointed the most glorious Archangel, St. Michael Prince of Thy Church. Make us worthy, we beg of Thee to be delivered by his powerful protection from all our enemies, that we may not be overcome by them at the hour of death, but that we may be conducted by St. Michael into the holy presence of Thy Divine Majesty. This, we beg through the merits of Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.

God bless!

+JMJ+