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“How oft do they their silver bowers leave,

And come to succor us that succor want?

How oft do they with golden pinions cleave

The flitting skies, like flying pursuivant,

Against foul fiends, to aid us militant?

They for us fight, they watch, and duly ward,

And their bright squadrons round about us plant,

And all for love, and nothing for reward!

Oh, why should heavenly God to men have such regard!”

As early as the fourth century the Christian Church had developed a profound belief in the existence of both good and evil angels,—“the foul fiends” and “bright squadrons” of Spenser’s lines,—the former ever tempting human beings to sin, and the indulgence of their lower natures; the latter inciting them to pursue good, forsaking evil and pressing forward to the perfect Christian life. This faith is devoutly maintained in the writings of the Fathers of the Church, in which we are also taught that angelic aid may be invoked in our need, and that a consciousness of the abiding presence of celestial beings should be a supreme solace to human sorrow and suffering.