Saint Gabriel the Archangel

History

The New Testament mentions Archangel Gabriel in the account in which he is sent to the high priest Zechariah to announce the birth of John the Baptist (Lk 1:11-19), the precursor. Luke also describes the Archangel as he announces the birth of Jesus, to Mary (Lk 1:26-35). [1]

Annunciation (cf. Lk 26-38), when Mary’s “yes” to the Archangel Gabriel permitted the Incarnation of the Son of God, Jesus. It is a scene that inspires the greatest wonder and emotion because God, the Most High, the Omnipotent, by means of the Angel converses with a young girl from Nazareth, asking for her collaboration for His plan of salvation. (…) As in the scene of the creation of Adam, painted by Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel, where the finger of the heavenly Father touches the finger of the man; thus here too the human and the divine encounter each other, at the beginning of our Redemption, they meet with a wonderful delicacy, in the blessed instant in which the Virgin Mary utters her “yes”. She is a woman in a small peripheral village and is called for ever to the centre of history: on her answer depends the fate of humanity, which can smile and hope again, because its destiny has been placed in good hands. [2]

Miracles and Testimonies

• Annunciation to Mary - Proclaimed the birth of Jesus to the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:26-38).
• To Zachariah - Foretold the birth of John the Baptist, causing Zachariah's temporary muteness until the prophecy was fulfilled.
• To Daniel - Revealed visions about the Messiah's coming and future kingdoms.
• To Shepherds - Announced Jesus's birth to the shepherds in Bethlehem.
• To Joseph - Appeared in a dream to assure Joseph about Mary's divine conception and commanded him to flee to Egypt.

Devotion

Iconography depicts Saint Gabriel in the classic form of angels, with a lily in his hand, which according to tradition, he gave to Our Lady as a gift, symbolizing her Immaculate Conception, virginity, purity and abandonment to God’s will. In some images, he is depicted wearing deacon vestments, while in others he is depicted holding a lit lantern and a green jasper mirror bearing a transcription of God’s orders, which he must faithfully transmit.

In many paintings, Saint Gabriel is depicted carrying a phylactery inscribed with the Latin words, “Ave Maria, gratia plena” (Hail Mary, full of grace). He is the protector of communication, postmen and women, ambassadors, news agents and couriers.

The three Archangels, whom we celebrate on 29 September, were contemplatives of the Glory of God and messengers of the Good News. Their names express their mission, not their nature. They are messengers of the Lord who proclaim his will and “along with the Saints, constitute the immense multitude of worshippers of the living God”.

Their names refer to God: Michael, (Mikha-el) means “Who is like God?”, is Patron Saint of the Gendarmerie Corps of Vatican City State. Gabriel, which means “God is my strength”, is the messenger par excellence, while Raphael, which means “God heals”, represents Divine Providence. The Angels are mentioned in the Preface, in the Roman Missal and in the Liturgy of the Hours. [1]

Legacy

Saint Gregory the Great highlighted that the Archangels are more than angels because they “announce the greatest of mysteries”. The Church honours only three of them liturgically because the Scriptures mention them and their mission. [1]

Pope Francis thus summed up the roles of the Archangels: “Michael defends us, Gabriel gives us the good news and Raphael takes us by the hand and walks with us; he helps us with the many things that occur along the journey”. We must ask Raphael to help “us not to be tempted to take the wrong step, to take the wrong path”, the Holy Father stressed. “Guide us along the right path; you are our traveling companion as you were [once] the traveling companion of Tobias”, he concluded. [2]