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Prayers of the 21 Divisions: Full Devotional Guide

Published on 24th July 2026 · English

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Prayers of the 21 Divisions: A Complete Devotional Guide

There are nights when the only real relief comes from a prayer said with faith. I've spent more than twenty years within the 21 Divisions, and this guide brings together traditional prayers directed at the main misterios of the pantheon, organized by purpose and by misterio, with the right context for using them, not just loose text with no explanation the way you find it everywhere else.

Some teachings and reflections on this tradition are also available in Spanish. You can explore the Spanish section here: Temas Espirituales.

Traditional prayers of the 21 Divisions dedicated to the misterios
Steady devotion is what sustains the relationship with each misterio, not just prayer in moments of crisis.

How to pray these prayers correctly

A prayer said from memory with no intention behind it doesn't carry the same weight as one said with faith and context. Before the specific prayers, here's what actually makes a prayer work within the practice.

  • Be clear about what you're asking for. A confused request gets a confused answer. Before praying, sort out in your own mind exactly what you need.
  • Pair the prayer with a candle in the matching color when you can: green and red for Belié Belcán, yellow for Anaisa Pye, and so on by misterio.
  • Pray in a calm space, ideally in front of an altar or an image of the misterio if you have one set up.
  • Consistency matters more than intensity. A short prayer said every day is worth more than a long one said once and then forgotten.

A strong protection prayer

When you feel something circling you, whether it's envy, an evil eye, or a presence you don't recognize, this is a short prayer for immediate protection.

"Misterios of the 21 Divisions, guardians of my path, I ask for your protection in this moment. Let no harm reach me, let no envy touch me, let no shadow remain in my house or in my body. Cover my entrance, cover my way out, cover the ones I love. Let whatever comes against me return to the one who sent it, and let me stand clean and protected under your cover. So be it."

Best said in front of a white or red candle, calmly, repeated three times.

This prayer is a starting point. If your situation feels heavier than a rough patch, a full English guide to protection psalms and prayers is something I plan to publish soon, similar to a much deeper Spanish-language guide I already have live on the site.

Prayer to open paths within the tradition of the 21 Divisions
Opening paths starts with clarity about what you're asking for, not just the prayer itself.

A prayer to open paths

"Spirits who open the way, I ask you to clear what's stuck in my life. Let money flow, let opportunities arrive, let closed doors open in their time. Move out of my path what no longer serves me, and place in front of me what truly belongs to me. Give me patience as I walk, and strength not to stop. So be it."

A good time to say it: at the start of the day, before leaving the house, or on Mondays while lighting a green candle.

Prayer to Anaisa Pye

For love, money, and the joy that Anaisa Pye represents within the White Division.

"Anaisa Pye, mistress of joy, love, and abundance, I come before you with an open heart. Bring sincere love into my life, and if I already have it, strengthen it. Open the doors of the money I need, and fill my home with laughter and peace. Keep away from me whoever doesn't wish me well, and draw near whoever does. Thank you for your generosity, joyful mother. So be it."

Best said with a yellow candle, and if possible, with something sweet nearby as an offering.

If you want to know her better in general, I already wrote about her in this article on Anaisa Pye, spirit of love, joy, and celebration.

Prayer to Belié Belcán

For protection, justice, and strength in the face of conflict, invoking the misterio syncretized with Saint Michael the Archangel.

"Belié Belcán, warrior and protector, I come to ask you for firmness. Defend me from my enemies, seen and unseen. Give me the strength to face what's ahead of me without fear, and the wisdom to act with justice. Let your sword protect me, and let your presence drive away all harm. Thank you for your steadfastness, faithful warrior. So be it."

Best said with a green or red candle, especially in moments of real conflict.

Prayer to Candelo

For strength, transformation, and moving past obstacles that feel stuck.

"Papá Candelo, spirit of fire and strength, I come to ask you to light up in me what's gone out. Give me courage to transform what no longer serves me, and strength to hold onto what's worth keeping. Burn away the obstacles that hold me back, without burning what I love. Let your fire give me energy, not destruction. So be it."

Best said in front of a lit candle, calmly and without rushing, letting it burn all the way down if it's safe to do so.

Prayer to Santa Marta la Dominadora

For mastering difficult situations and gaining control over circumstances that feel out of your hands.

"Santa Marta la Dominadora, you who master what seems impossible, I come to ask you for mastery over this situation weighing on me. Tame what I haven't been able to control, and give me the strength to stand firm. Let circumstances arrange themselves in my favor, and let me find calm in the middle of what's hard. Thank you for your power, dominating mother. So be it."

Best said consistently, not just once, especially when a situation has felt out of control for a while.

I've written a full, dedicated article on this devotion specifically: the complete Santa Marta prayer, on strength and Dominican Vodou, which goes deeper into her prayer and how devotees approach her.

Catholic prayers to the saints syncretized with the misterios of the 21 Divisions
Each misterio has a Catholic saint it's syncretized with, and that saint's traditional prayer also has a place in devotion.

Catholic prayers to the syncretized saints

The 21 Divisions were born from a real syncretism between the African faith brought by enslaved people and the Catholicism imposed during colonial rule, a history covered in more depth in this guide to the 21 Divisions. Because of that shared history, alongside the prayer directed straight at the misterio, many servidores also pray the traditional Catholic prayer of the saint that misterio is syncretized with. Both devotions coexist within the practice, and this section gathers the Catholic prayers that correspond to each of the misterios above.

Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel (Belié Belcán)

"Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen."

This is the traditional prayer to Saint Michael, attributed to Pope Leo XIII, and it's the most commonly prayed alongside devotion to Belié Belcán.

Prayer to Saint Anne (Anaisa Pye)

"Glorious Saint Anne, who carried in your womb the one who would become the Mother of God, and who was an example of faith, patience, and family love, I ask you to intercede for me before the Most High. Grant me peace in my home, unity in my family, and the grace to love as you loved. Pray for me and for those I love, blessed Saint Anne. Amen."

Saint Anne is venerated as the patron of mothers, family, and the home, and is the Catholic figure traditionally syncretized with Anaisa Pye.

Prayer to Saint Charles Borromeo (Candelo Cedifé)

"Saint Charles Borromeo, example of dedication and strength, I ask for your intercession in this moment of my life. Give me the strength to overcome what's difficult for me today, and the humility to serve with my heart, as you served. Take away my discouragement, and light in me the will to keep going. Amen."

Saint Charles Borromeo is the Catholic saint syncretized with Candelo Cedifé within the tradition.

Prayer to Saint Martha

"Blessed Saint Martha, you who served the Lord with dedication and received his grace, I ask you to master what resists being mastered in my life today. Intercede so that difficult wills soften, impossible situations resolve, and peace returns to my home and my path. I trust in your power of intercession, Saint Martha. Amen."

This is the traditional Catholic prayer to Saint Martha, widely prayed in popular Latin American Catholicism alongside devotion to Santa Marta la Dominadora.

The Holy Rosary: traditional prayer and its steps

The rosary is one of the most consistent Catholic devotions in Dominican households, and many families who practice the 21 Divisions pray it alongside their prayers to the misterios, without seeing any contradiction between the two. Here are the traditional steps for praying it in full.

  • 1. Make the Sign of the Cross, holding the crucifix of the rosary.
  • 2. Pray the Apostles' Creed, holding the cross.
  • 3. One Our Father on the first large bead.
  • 4. Three Hail Marys on the next three small beads, traditionally offered for an increase in faith, hope, and charity.
  • 5. One Glory Be.
  • 6. Announce the first mystery of the day and pray one Our Father, ten Hail Marys, and one Glory Be. This makes up one "decade."
  • 7. Repeat the same pattern for the five mysteries assigned to that day, each with its own decade.
  • 8. After the fifth decade, pray the Hail Holy Queen to close the rosary.

Our Father

"Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen."

Hail Mary

"Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen."

Glory Be

"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."

Hail Holy Queen (to close the rosary)

"Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Amen."

The mysteries of the rosary by day of the week

Each day of the week has a different set of mysteries assigned for meditation during the rosary. Here are all four complete sets and the days they correspond to.

Joyful Mysteries — Monday and Saturday

  • The Annunciation
  • The Visitation
  • The Nativity of Jesus in Bethlehem
  • The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple
  • The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple

Sorrowful Mysteries — Tuesday and Friday

  • The Agony in the Garden
  • The Scourging at the Pillar
  • The Crowning with Thorns
  • The Carrying of the Cross
  • The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus

Glorious Mysteries — Wednesday and Sunday

  • The Resurrection
  • The Ascension
  • The Descent of the Holy Spirit (Pentecost)
  • The Assumption of Mary into Heaven
  • The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth

Luminous Mysteries — Thursday

  • The Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan
  • The Wedding at Cana
  • The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God
  • The Transfiguration
  • The Institution of the Eucharist

These mysteries were added by Pope John Paul II in 2002, more recent than the other three sets, which come from a much older tradition.

Daily devotion and prayers to the misterios of the 21 Divisions
Daily devotion, even brief, sustains the relationship with the misterios better than one long, isolated prayer.

Want guidance for your own devotional practice?

If you want to understand which prayers and devotions actually fit your situation, that's exactly what a consultation is for.

Book a Consultation

Frequently asked questions

Can I pray these prayers without being initiated in the 21 Divisions?

Yes. Devotion and prayer don't require prior initiation. Anyone can address a misterio with respect and faith, initiated or not.

How often should I say these prayers?

It depends on the purpose. Daily devotional prayers can be said every day, while prayers for protection or specific situations are recommended for as long as the need lasts, said consistently.

Do I need specific candles for the prayer to work?

A candle helps focus the intention and is traditional within the practice, but a prayer said with genuine faith has value even without one. The candle supports the intention, it doesn't replace it.

Can I change the wording of these prayers?

Yes. What matters is the intention and sincerity, not memorizing the exact text word for word. You can adjust the wording to how you naturally speak as long as you keep the respect and the purpose of the request.

Does praying the rosary go against practicing the 21 Divisions?

No. The tradition itself was born from the syncretism between Catholicism and African and Indigenous beliefs, so both devotions coexist naturally in many households. Praying the rosary and honoring the misterios aren't opposing practices.

How do I know which rosary mysteries to pray today?

It depends on the day of the week: Joyful on Monday and Saturday, Sorrowful on Tuesday and Friday, Glorious on Wednesday and Sunday, and Luminous on Thursday. This guide includes the full list for each set.

The prayers directed at the misterios are original compositions by the author, written within the traditional framework of the 21 Divisions, and reflect more than twenty years of direct experience within the practice. The Catholic prayers (Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, Hail Holy Queen, Saint Michael, and the prayers to the syncretized saints) are traditional, widely known public domain prayers.

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Ruben Ricart

Ruben Ricart

Spiritual guide

Ruben Ricart is a spiritual guide and life coach focused on helping people find clarity, emotional balance, and deeper purpose through spiritual insight and personal development.

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