i'm impatient so ill format this page later.
i consider myself agnostic but as a good homosexual i really like religious images. So when the oportunity came not so long ago i bought a rosary for Saint Michael - it might be one of my favorite posessions, the cross looks like a sword and the medal has an inscription on the back ("quis ut Deus") and on the front a picture of archangel Michael pointing his flaming sword at a chained demon, one foot over it's chest. It came with a little pouch and everything and i carry it everywhere. Its really big and i often wear it on my neck, if not for fear of it catching around something and breaking.
And since im carrying it everywhere, i thought why not read some more about the archangel himself? which so far has only lead me down the rabbit hole of peculiar religious practices and church hierarchy. Also the paintings - I really like the Trifacial Trinity representation of God.
ANyways, i'm operating on basic good practices of respect here but i really dont think i classify as a believer. Im much more interested in the story of the bible as literature and the church as actual human history than anything, so
tl;dr sending my preventive apology to u all dont sue me. xoxo
Michael himself has become a sort of favorite, i dont see a lot of representations of him (mostly only Gabriel) and i think he also deserves some attention. I like orthodox representations of him the best, and thats how i always draw him (the scarves are awesome) and Jesus (oval looking hair thing looks cool)
No luck at all in reproducing the orthodox painting style. I suck ass at painting anything. My biggest inspiration though is Victor Vasnetsov, his paintings fuck verily
anyways ive also read about how to pray the rosary. One prayer for each bead, and apparently the rosary of St Michael has a different bead count than the usual rosary for...Virgin Mary, i can only assume.
The funny thing is that... my rosary has the normal Virgin Mary amount of beads...
Opening Act of Contrition (prayed on the Medal):
V/. O God, + come to my assistance
R/. O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
(note: i dont know what the V/. and R/. mean... and i dont know how to find out. ill gladly accept an explanation if any of you know...)
First Salutation:
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.
One Our Father. Then, Three Hail Mary's.
Second Salutation:
By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Cherubim, may the Lord vouchsafe to grant us grace to leave the ways of wickedness to run in the paths of Christian perfection. Amen.
One Our Father. Then, Three Hail Mary's.
Third Salutation:
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.
One Our Father. Then, Three Hail Mary's.
Fourth Salutation:
By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Dominations, may the Lord give us grace to govern our senses and subdue our unruly passions. Amen.
One Our Father. Then, Three Hail Mary's.
Fifth Salutation:
By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Virtues, may the Lord preserve us from evil and suffer us not to fall into temptation. Amen.
One Our Father. Then, Three Hail Mary's.
Sixth Salutation:
By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Powers, may the Lord vouchsafe to protect our souls against the snares and temptations of the devil. Amen.
One Our Father. Then, Three Hail Mary's.
Seventh Salutation:
By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Principalities, may God fill our souls with a true spirit of obedience. Amen.
One Our Father. Then, Three Hail Mary's.
Eight Salutation:
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 gain the glory of Paradise. Amen.
One Our Father. Then, Three Hail Mary's.
Ninth Salutation:
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 eternal glory. Amen.
One Our Father. Then, Three Hail Mary's.
Then, one Our Father in honor of each: Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, and your guardian angel (four in total).
Concluding Prayer (also prayed on the medal):
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, thou who dost shine with excellence and superhuman virtue, vouchsafe to deliver us from all evil, who turn to thee with confidence, and enable us by thy gracious protection to serve God more and more faithfully every day.
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.
Almighty and Everlasting God, Who by a prodigy of goodness and a merciful desire for the salvation of all men, hast appointed the most glorious Archangel, St. Michael, Prince of Thy Church, make us worthy, we beseech Thee, 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 the august presence of Thy Divine Majesty. This we beg through the merits of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Theres of course a number of (shorter) prayers dedicated to Michael, turns out people really like him. I thought there wouldnt be many since chirstianity seem really set on only worshipping one god but i guess it doesnt make a difference if youre worshipping one of His workers? idk
i just have to be very good at counting ig