". . . every perfect gift, and especially that of chastity, depends on [God's] providence."
— St. Thomas Aquinas

Who We Are

The Angelic Warfare Confraternity (AWC) is a fellowship of men and women bound to one another in love and prayer, dedicated to pursuing chastity under the patronage of St. Thomas Aquinas and the Blessed Virgin Mary. The AWC is an official prayer ministry of the Dominican Order. 

What We Do

Chastity is the virtue that ensures the integrity of our human powers to live and to love, especially in regards to the opposite sex. Since everyone, no matter their official state or vocation in life, needs to achieve mastery in the area of sex and love in order to flourish as a human person and a disciple of Christ, a prayer group for chastity can be a big help! 

Members of the AWC commit to live chastity—with God’s help—in the way most appropriate to their single, consecrated, or married state of life. Each day, they pray two special prayers (listed below) and 15 Hail Marys for all the other members of the confraternity. Members also wear a blessed cord, reminiscent of the angels who “girded” St. Thomas Aquinas with chastity (or, optionally, a blessed medal). Whether you feel weak or strong in your ability to see and treat others with purity of heart, this confraternity stores up a treasury of graces available for its members.​

Daily Prayers
Dear Jesus, I know that every perfect gift, and especially that of chastity, depends on the power of Your providence. Without You a mere creature can do nothing. Therefore, I beg You to defend by Your grace the chastity and purity of my body and soul. And if I have ever imagined or sensed anything that could stain my chastity and purity, blot it out, Supreme Lord of my powers, that I may advance with a pure heart in Your love and service, offering myself on the most pure altar of Your divinity all the days of my life. Amen. 

​Chosen lily of innocence, pure St. Thomas, who kept chaste the robe of baptism and became an angel in the flesh after being girded by two angels, I implore you to commend me to Jesus, the Spotless Lamb, and to Mary, the Queen of Virgins. Gentle protector of my purity, ask them that I, who wear the holy sign of your victory over the flesh, may also share your purity, and after imitating you on earth may at last come to be crowned with you among the angels. Amen.

St. Thomas is girded by angels with a mystical belt of purity after his proof of chastity. Painting by Diego Velázquez.

When We Meet

Being primarily a spiritual association, the AWC does not require members to attend meetings.   ​​

Join Us

Membership is open to any Christian above the age of reason (seven years old) who has received the sacrament of Confirmation, but anyone can pray the required prayers above to some benefit. New members can follow these five simple steps to enroll in the confraternity at any time; however, St. Gertrude Parish holds enrollment ceremonies for new members every so often. 

1. Read. Read the history and catechesis of the confraternity in order to understand the spiritual practices and benefits associated with the cord of St. Thomas Aquinas.
2. Pray. Begin the habit of saying the daily prayers of the confraternity: the 15 Hail Marys and the two prayers of St. Thomas for purity.
3. Order. Visit the AWC store to order a cord (or medal), then download the membership enrollment form and the ritual booklet for the rite of enrollment.
4. Rite of Reception. Go through the rite of solemn reception with a Dominican priest.
5. Register. Fill out the enrollment form, and send it to your regional AWC promoter. Once he enters it into the official register, you will be a member of the confraternity.

Contact Us

For more information about the Angelic Warfare Confraternity please contact the parish office at [email protected] or (513) 561-5954.

Additional Resources

To learn more about the Angelic Warfare Confraternity, please visit angelicwarfareconfraternity.org.