San Mateo

I'm sorry I haven't been around. I know last time I mentioned some soul searching and spring cleaning. Noticing yesterday that I had been away for almost a week, I felt as though I should write something. But there was nothing to say. So I said nothing. But today, today there is something to say. And so I will say it.

Yesterday I had the privilege to help out with the San Mateo youth retreat in Fort Worth. They asked for some Remnant apostolate members to come out and Matt sent Debbie and I. What a day!

Certainly I enjoyed all of my time there (minus, of course, the multiple calls from work) but the part that I think I will remember for a very long time was during my talk. I was scheduled to do a thirty-minute talk on Divine Mercy -- the devotion, the chaplet, the promises. I had everything prepared and knew exactly what I was going to say. I had my papers together to help me if I got too nervous and I was pumped up about sharing this devotion, my personal favorite, with these awesome young adults. Having lead a break-out session on forgiveness earlier in the day, I knew they were going to love it if only they would give it a chance.

When it came time to give my talk, we were running about twenty minutes behind schedule. I talked to the retreat master and we both agreed that we wanted to start the chaplet as close to three as possible. So, I cut a lot of what I had planned and pretty much just said what the Spirit compelled me to say. And what the Spirit compelled me to say caught me SO off-guard.

I had read through all of this material at least 8 times, reminding myself not to forget certain points. But it was when I started reading to them about the promises Jesus made to St. Faustina about those who prayed this chaplet that I literally felt my whole body quiver in awe. I started to tear up but choked it back. I had to lead the chaplet in a few minutes!

It struck me as I read to them that I was truly doing God's work on earth. I was bringing them to Christ and setting them there, at least for a few minutes. I set them before Him and I begged them to see Him in all of His merciful glory. And I think they did. (Praise God.)

Here is what I read to them:

"Say unceasingly this chaplet that I have taught you. Anyone who says it will receive great Mercy at the hour of death. Priests will recommend it to sinners as the last hope. Even the most hardened sinner, if he recites this Chaplet even once, will receive grace from My Infinite Mercy. I want the whole world to know My Infinite Mercy. I want to give unimaginable graces to those who trust in My Mercy...."

Chaplet of St. Michael the Archangel

from the EWTN site:
The Chaplet of St. Michael is a wonderful way to honor this great Archangel along with the other nine Choirs of Angels.

What do we mean by Choirs? It seems that God has created various orders of Angels. Sacred Scripture distinguishes nine such groupings: Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones, Dominions, Powers, Virtues, Principalities, Archangels and Angels (Isa. 6:2; Gen. 3:24; Col. 1:6; Eph. 1:21; Rom. 8:38). There may be more groupings but these are the only ones that have been revealed to us. The Seraphim is believed to be the highest Choir, the most intimately united to God, while the Angelic Choir is the lowest.

The history of this Chaplet goes back to a devout Servant of God, Antonia d'Astonac, who had a vision of St. Michael. He told Antonia to honor him by nine salutations to the nine Choirs of Angels. St. Michael promised that whoever would practice this devotion in his honor would have, when approaching Holy Communion, an escort of nine angels chosen from each of the nine Choirs. In addition, for those who would recite the Chaplet daily, he promised his continual assistance and that of all the holy angels during life.

The Chaplet of St. Michael
On the St. Michael medallion:
O God, come to my assistance.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father, etc.

On the 4 next beads:
Say one Our Father in honor of each of the following leading Angels:
St. Michael
St. Gabriel
St. Raphael
our Guardian Angel.

The rest of the Chaplet:
[Say one Our Father and three Hail Marys after each of the following nine salutations in honor of the nine Choirs of Angels]

1. 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.

2. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Cherubim may the Lord grant us the grace to leave the ways of sin and run in the paths of Christian perfection.
Amen.

3. 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.

4. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Dominions may the Lord give us grace to govern our senses and overcome any unruly passions.
Amen.

5. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Powers may the Lord protect our souls against the snares and temptations of the devil.
Amen.

6. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Virtues may the Lord preserve us from evil and falling into temptation. Amen.

7. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Principalities may God fill our souls with a true spirit of obedience. Amen.

8. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Archangels may the Lord give us perseverance in faith and in all good works in order that we may attain the glory of Heaven.
Amen.

9. 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 in the life to come to Heaven.
Amen.


Concluding prayers:

O glorious prince St. Michael, chief and commander of the heavenly hosts, guardian of souls, vanquisher of rebel spirits, servant in the house of the Divine King and our admirable conductor, you who shine with excellence and superhuman virtue deliver us from all evil, who turn to you with confidence and enable us by your gracious protection to serve God more and more faithfully every day.

Pray for us, O glorious St. Michael, Prince of the Church of Jesus Christ, that we may be made worthy of His promises.

Almighty and Everlasting God, Who, by a prodigy of goodness and a merciful desire for the salvation of all men, has appointed the most glorious Archangel St. Michael Prince of Your Church, make us worthy, we ask You, to be delivered from all our enemies, that none of them may harass us at the hour of death, but that we may be conducted by him into Your Presence.This we ask through the merits of
Jesus Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

photo credit: a beautiful chaplet made by Kimberlee of Beads of Mercy - and it's available for purchase!