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Christ has no body now on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours; yours are the eyes through which to look at Christ's compassion to the world, yours are the feet with which he is to go about doing good, and yours are the hands with which he is to bless us now." - St. Teresa of Avila
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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 world’s 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—literally—out 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 includes—in order of importance or rank—Seraphim, 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 scriptures—both Christian and Muslim—describe 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
Amen.
D 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
us—make 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. Don’t 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
Blessing—Charity 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
Blessing—Healing 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
Blessing—New 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
Blessing—Service 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: |
