Why You Should Pray to the Choir of Angels

Defend Us in Battle: The Promises of St. Michael and the Heavenly Angels

by Marge Steinhage Fenelon
Published by Marian Press

Have you heard of the Chaplet of Saint Michael? While I am very familiar with the prayer to Saint Michael, I had never heard of this particular devotion before reading Defend Us in Battle: The Promises of St. Michael and the Heavenly Angels by Catholic Mom contributing writer Marge Steinhage Fenelon. This prayer was given to a Portuguese Carmelite nun named Antonia d’Astonaco by St. Michael in 1751.

The Chaplet includes nine salutations (like decades of the Rosary), each addressed to one of the choirs, and each asking for a particular grace. (19)

Saint Michael holds a place of honor among the angels in the fight against Satan because “it was St. Michael to cast [Lucifer] forever from the eternal gates” (18). Fenelon shares this Chaplet and the blessings it can offer us. 

The Choirs of Angels 

Each chapter of this book focuses on a different choir of angels and the way that they can help us, especially in fighting a particular vice. The nine choirs of angels are seraphim, cherubim, thrones, dominions, virtues, powers, principalities, archangels, and angels. Fenelon relies on Scripture and Tradition to explain the roles of each of these choirs.  

Prior to reading this book, I tended to think of most angels as a homogeneous group with a few of the “big” names leading them, such as Saints Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel. It turns out that all three of those esteemed angels are actually members of the archangels, a relatively low choir of angels (although still infinitely higher than human beings). Aas indicated, though, Saint Michael does hold a lofty spot among the angels where fighting evil is concerned. It was fascinating to learn about these different choirs of angels and their various responsibilities.  

Our Battle Against Evil  

The vices Fenelon focuses on are envy, acedia, pride, impurity, gluttony, avarice, wrath, despair, and fear. Reading about and reflecting on vices is never pleasant. None of us enjoys thinking about all the ways we are falling short of God’s plan for us and what the consequences of our sins might be. In that sense, this is a difficult book to read, but Fenelon does offer us a path to hope by encouraging us to turn to the various choirs of angels to help us in our struggles and our fight against evil. Each chapter closes with reflection questions, resolutions, and a prayer to ask that particular choir of angels for assistance in fighting a certain vice.  

Defend Us in Battle: The Promises of St. Michael and the Heavenly Angels tackles an important subject that hasn’t previously received much attention. It makes for interesting and soul-searching reading. It would be an excellent pick for a Catholic book club. 

Ultimately, while battling evil is always a difficult topic to read about, Fenelon wants each of us to remember that “I am God’s child and have the full protection of His angels. Therefore, I need have no fear” (127).  

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Copyright 2024 Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur
Images: (top) detail from book cover
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