“When for an immense period of time, more than four thousand years, the human race lay in misery, on account of the sin of the first man, not one soul being able to soar to his native Country; the blessed angelical spirits, we can imagine, compassionated so great a fall, and anxious for the restoration of their own ranks, when ‘the fulness of time had now come,’ assembling themselves together, presented themselves before God, and falling down on their faces before Him, devoutly and earnestly pressed upon Him their supplications and said, ‘O Lord, it pleased Thy Majesty to make the rational creature, namely man, because of Thy goodness, that he might be here with us, and that the restoration of our numbers might be brought about by his presence. But behold! the whole race is perishing, and not one is saved; and throughout the ages which are past we see our enemies triumphing over all, when instead of our ranks being filled up, the caverns of hell are crowded. Wherefore then, O Lord, didst Thou make man? “Why are the souls which confess to Thee, delivered to beasts?” (Ps. lxxiv. 20. V.) l And if this be in accord with Thy justice, yet now is the time of mercy. And if their first parents unwarily transgressed Thy commandment, let Thy mercy come to their help. Remember that Thou didst create them in Thy own likeness. Extend, O Lord, mercifully Thy hand to them, and replenish them mercifully. The eyes of all look to Thee, “as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters,” (Ps. cxxiii. 2.) until Thou wilt have mercy, and deliver the human race by a saving remedy.’” St. Bonaventure, The Life of Christ, Ch. 1