14. And there was given to the woman two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the desert unto her place, where she is nourished for a time and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
15. And the serpent cast out of his mouth after the woman, water as it were a river; that he might cause her to be carried away by the river.
16. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the river, which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
17. And the dragon was angry against the woman: and went to make war with the rest of her seed, who kept the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
18. And he stood upon the sands of the sea.
10, 11. St. Michael and his angels give glory to God for the victory of the Church which is achieved by the power of the Precious Blood shed for man's redemption. Satan is overcome according to Christ's testimony that "the gates of hell shall never prevail" against His Church. [1] Victory was also made possible by the invincible courage of the faithful who hesitated not to give their life in defense of the Church. Those shall be days of great persecution in which the Church will suffer all the horrors of the early ages, but she will likewise be crowned with the glory of innumerable martyrs.
- ↑ St. Matthew xvi, 18.
