This has always been one of my favorite times of year. Fall in Chicago can have it's rainy days, of course, but it seems to me the weather in early autumn is more likely to be fine than the weather in springtime. The blue of the sky is deeper, and the light takes on a golden quality, the oppressive heat and humidity of summer is gone and the evenings and mornings are cool. Flowers are still in bloom, crisp sweet apples are in season and we can finally pull our sweaters out of the closets. In a few weeks, somewhere around Halloween, this will end. As fall moves closer to winter, the weather will turn cold and any rain that does fall will chill us to the bone. There will be less light, as the sun sets earlier and we move away from daylight savings time. But for now, it's glorious, just the time of year to celebrate and honor the angels. Sept. 29 has traditionally been the feast of St. Michael the Archangel, the leader of God's armies and protector of his people. He is usually depicted with a sword, and he figures into the apocalyptic books of Daniel and Revelation, not to mention Milton's "Paradise Lost." He is the patron of police, and, oddly, grocers. In the early 1960s, the church moved the feasts of the other named archangels, Gabriel (formerly March 24) and Raphael (formerly Oct. 24), to join the feast of St. Michael. Each has his own role to play as well: Gabriel appears in the Book of Daniel with Michael, there to explain Daniel's vision. He's probably best known among Catholics for his role in the Nativity story, announcing the impending birth of Jesus to Mary. He also appears to John the Baptist's father, Zachariah, to tell him he will have a son. He is, logically, the patron saint of communications workers. Raphael, the guide, appears only in the Book of Tobit, helping Tobiah safely marry Sarah, who had already had seven bridegrooms perish on the night of their weddings. He is known as a patron saint of travelers. The three are the only named angels in the Bible, although Scripture speaks of many unnamed angels. Their celebration, coming during the last warm, golden days of the year, ushers us into the darker days of late fall, into the waning of the year when Catholics of many cultures turn their minds towards death, with Halloween, the Day of the Dead and the celebrations of All Saints and All Souls. Before that happens, maybe on Sept. 29, take a moment and remember to pray to St. Michael: St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits, who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.