The Month of October
Day 7
38. Angels Encourage and Strengthen Us in Times of Suffering
(From the Life of the Holy Martyrs Sergius and Bacchus)
Day 7
38. Angels Encourage and Strengthen Us in Times of Suffering
(From the Life of the Holy Martyrs Sergius and Bacchus)
It is known that the good Angels, fulfilling the will of God, bestow many benefits upon us human beings. Thus, they care for our salvation, inspire us with good thoughts and desires, turn us away from evil deeds and intentions, protect us from the attacks of evil spirits, carry our prayers before the throne of God, and, finally, intercede for us before God. But what do you think, brethren, have we listed all the benefits that the good Angels bestow upon us? No, you must learn of yet another, and the greatest, benefit that the good Angels render to us. And this benefit consists in the fact that the Angels do not abandon us even during sufferings, whenever we are called upon to endure them, but during them they comfort, encourage, and strengthen us.
Once, the Holy Martyrs Sergius and Bacchus, for confessing the Christian faith, were sent by the Emperor Maximian in chains from Rome to the fierce persecutor Antiochus. When they were on the way and stopped for the night at an inn, taking advantage of the sleep of the soldiers guarding them, they arose at midnight for prayer and fervently asked God to send them His help, so that they might courageously endure every kind of torment for His name’s sake. Their prayer was heard; for during their prayer an Angel of the Lord appeared to them, radiant with heavenly glory, and, strengthening them, said: “Take courage, servants of Christ, and, like valiant soldiers, withstand the devil! Soon you will conquer him, and for your struggle you will receive victorious crowns from Christ the Lord, Who will not depart from you during your sufferings and will continue to give you His help until you finally trample the enemy beneath your feet.” Having strengthened them for the struggle with these words, the Angel became invisible, and the Holy Martyrs were filled with indescribable joy and began to offer praise to God, Who had been pleased to visit them through the appearance of His Angel.
Thus, there is no doubt that the good Angels bestow upon us this great benefit as well: they do not abandon us during sufferings, but during them encourage, comfort, and strengthen us. And what does knowing this oblige us to do? First, that we should always remain grateful to our invisible protectors and comforters; second, that in sorrows and sufferings we should turn to them with fervent prayer and ask them for deliverance and help; and third, finally, that, in order to obtain their intercession more quickly, we should always live in holiness and piety. And we must especially remember this last point. For what does the word of God say? “The Angel of the Lord shall encamp around those who fear Him” (Psalm 33:8)! Do you hear? Around those who fear God, and not around those who are fearless and lawless. Yes, know this: the Angel will not draw near to the lawless or protect them, just as Saint Basil the Great teaches: “Just as smoke drives away bees, and stench drives away doves, so grievous and stinking sin drives the Angel away from us.” (Works of Basil the Great, Part 5, Homily on Psalm 33, verse 8.)
O Lord, deliver us from this grievous and stinking sin, and grant us repentance and correction of our lives, so that Your holy Angels, our invisible guardians and intercessors, may never depart from us. Amen.
Questions for Discussion 38:
1. What did the Holy Martyrs Sergius and Bacchus ask God for in their prayer at midnight?
2. According to the words of the Angel of the Lord, how and against whom should Sergius and Bacchus withstand the devil?
3. According to the words of the Angel of the Lord, what would Sergius and Bacchus receive for their struggle?
4. According to the words of the Angel of the Lord to Sergius and Bacchus, until when would Christ the Lord continue to give them His help?
5. What did Sergius and Bacchus begin to do after the Angel had strengthened them for the struggle and they had been filled with indescribable joy?
Questions for Discussion 38:
1. What did the Holy Martyrs Sergius and Bacchus ask God for in their prayer at midnight?
2. According to the words of the Angel of the Lord, how and against whom should Sergius and Bacchus withstand the devil?
3. According to the words of the Angel of the Lord, what would Sergius and Bacchus receive for their struggle?
4. According to the words of the Angel of the Lord to Sergius and Bacchus, until when would Christ the Lord continue to give them His help?
5. What did Sergius and Bacchus begin to do after the Angel had strengthened them for the struggle and they had been filled with indescribable joy?
Source: The Cheti-Minei: Homilies for Every Day of the Year (Book 1: September, October, November) by Archpriest Viktor Guryev. Publication of the Russian Panteleimon Monastery on Mount Athos, 1896. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
