When you consider the large part they play in God’s great work, angels might be the most overlooked aspect of our spiritual life. Beyond their work throughout Scripture, many saints have also written beautifully about angels and their mission. Still, in modern life, angels often get relegated to artistic or theological concepts.
This is not a new problem, as we can learn from reading great Catholic works of the past. In looking back, many saints and spiritual writers noticed this same tendency in their time, and they wrote powerful works to encourage more devotion to the angels. One of the most pastoral and impassioned books encouraging such a devotion to the nine choirs of angels is, without a doubt, Devotion to the Holy Angels by Fr. Henri-Marie Boudon.
Henri-Marie Boudon is not a familiar name today, but his impact still endures. His influence on St. Louis de Montfort was so strong that the saint adopted Fr. Boudon’s motto of “God Alone” as his own. He also had a great impact on the famed orator and bishop Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet.
In his mission to promote piety and devotion, Fr. Boudon encouraged devotion to all nine choirs of angels, viewing them as essential companions in our spiritual life. “If you love God,” declared the spiritual writer, “you must love the angels.” For Fr. Boudon, angels weren’t just metaphysical concepts, but beings who reflect God’s love in their service. His book on the subject makes a compelling case for devotion to the angels, but he also offers pastoral advice on how to live this devotion.
Among Fr. Boudon’s many suggestions was the idea to say a novena to the nine choirs of angels. The good priest saw the fruits of this practice, writing, “I have seen marvelous things take place while the holy angels were being honored by this exercise, and the power of the devils ruined in matters of serious importance.”
How to Pray a Novena in Honor of the Nine Choirs of Angels
Starting with the angels and ending with the seraphim, Fr. Boudon suggests using each day to honor a particular choir of angels. Along with the daily prayers, Fr. Boudon offers some other suggestions like having nine Masses said, lighting a candle for all nine days, or visiting nine churches or shrines.
For those of us who lack time and resources, Fr. Boudon recommends praying an Our Father nine times, in honor of the particular choir of the day, as well as nine Hail Marys. If you have more time, try praying the Litany to the Holy Angels each day. Fr. Boudon also suggests praying this novena nine days before feasts honoring Mary or Jesus, as the angels can help us to grow closer to both.
Day 1: Angels, Especially Our Guardian Angel
Fr. Boudon directs:
“Let the first day of the novena be devoted to honoring the angels of the lowest choir; we may ask of them faith, which is the beginning and the foundation of the spiritual life.”
This choir is closest to us, and from this choir come our guardian angels. St. Bernard of Clairvaux encourages us to remember these heavenly beings who watch over us, saying, “They are faithful; they are prudent; they are powerful; why do we tremble? Let us only follow them, let us remain close to them, and in the protection of the God of heaven let us abide.” As those closest to us, they are well positioned to pray for our faith.
Day 2: The Archangels
“On the second day we may venerate the Archangels, and ask of them zeal in the cause of Him whom faith makes known to us, begging that the same knowledge which comes of faith may be imparted to all unbelievers and heretics.”
St. Gregory the Great further states, “In the Greek language angels are called ‘messengers’ and archangels are the most important messengers.” From this choir we know Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, whom we celebrate on September 29th.
Day 3: The Principalities
“On the third day the Principalities; praying for the preservation and augmentation of faith in Catholic countries; and, as faith ought to be accompanied with a good life, we will offer our prayers for the extirpation of sin and for the reformation of the inner man.”
Earlier, Fr. Boudon encouraged devotion to the Principalities, saying, “Love the Principalities; it is they who watch so diligently over the welfare of kingdoms, states, and those who govern.”
Day 4: The Powers
“On the fourth day we may honor the Powers; invoking their aid against the might of those devils who war against us in the ways of faith, and counteract our designs of Christian mortification.”
Earlier in the book, Fr. Boudon also said, “Love the Powers; they are your defenders against the malice, the rage, and the power of the devils.” This teaching was echoed by St. Gregory the Great, who saw this choir as key to avoiding demonic influence.
Day 5: The Virtues
“On the fifth day the Virtues; imploring their help to surmount the difficulties which the flesh and the world oppose to us in the paths of the spiritual life, and to obtain a holy generosity in the exercise of the Christian virtues.”
St. Gregory says of this choir: “Virtues are those spirits through whom signs and wonders are most frequently accomplished.” Fr. Boudon encourages us to turn to these angels as we grow in faith and devotion.
Day 6: The Dominions
“The sixth day may be given to the Dominations, in order that we may know the requirements of God, what He asks of us, and that His Divine will may be manifested to us.”
Fr. Boudon also instructs us to “Love the Dominations, they will teach you to become masters of yourselves and of all things, raising you above all created beings by an intimate union with the Creator.” St. Gregory also taught that these particular angels can assist us in dominating our vices.
Day 7: The Thrones
“The seventh day to the Thrones, that they may obtain for us a perfect subjection and an entire abandonment to the will of God, wherein consists that peace which passes all imagination.”
Earlier, Fr. Boudon encouraged readers, “Love the Thrones, the patrons of true tranquility of soul and peace of heart.” Like the Cherubim and Seraphim, this choir experiences God’s presence directly, and they are thus well-disposed to join us in praying for peace, especially that peace which surpasses all understanding.
Day 8: The Cherubim
“The eighth day may be devoted to the Cherubim, for the establishment of the light of Jesus Christ in us, and a renunciation of all the maxims of the world opposed to it.”
Cherubim means “fullness of knowledge,” and these angels burn with the light of God that illuminates our minds and hearts. They are those who sit over God’s mercy seat and stand guard at the Garden of Eden. Fr. Boudon says these angels “best know how to instruct us in the excellent science of the saints,” as they possess direct knowledge of Our Lord.
Day 9: The Seraphim
“The ninth day to the Seraphim, for the reign and triumph of pure love in our hearts.”
St. Gregory says of this choir: “Their love is truly a flame, since the more acutely they look upon the glory of God’s divinity, the more savagely they burst into flame with God’s love.” One of these angels pierced the heart of St. Teresa of Avila, while another Seraphim imparted the stigmata upon St. Francis of Assisi. They are helpful companions in our spiritual life as they can inspire us to burn with the same love of God.
Author’s Note: Devotion to the Holy Angels is available from Sophia Institute Press. I also highly recommend the book Encounters with Angels, which is full of inspiring stories of saints and the angels they encountered.
Image from Wikimedia Commons
