In these days, quite abruptly, the year has tipped over into autumn. It is always hard to tell exactly what marks this transition; the swallows have not left yet, the trees are still green and the days still warm. But the blackberries are turning pink and the birch trees appear to be hung with gold coins. There is definitely something in the air, especially early in the morning, which says, “the summer is over, it is autumn now”. Last week, as though to console us for the passing of summer and to fortify us against the winter, the Church offers not one but two cheery celebrations, albeit ones that sit a little oddly in contemporary culture. On Tuesday last week, we had the feast of the three named archangels (Michael, Gabriel and Raphael) and on the Friday it was the turn of o