St. Gabriel the Archangel

St. Gabriel the Archangel Medal

St. Gabriel the Archangel is one of the seven archangels in the Bible and is venerated as a saint in the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Church. He is known for his role in the Bible as the messenger of God, who appears to several key figures in the Bible, and delivers important messages from God.

According to the Bible, Gabriel first appears in the Book of Daniel in the Old Testament, where he reveals to the prophet Daniel the meaning of his visions. He also appears in the Gospel of Luke, where he announces to the Virgin Mary that she will give birth to Jesus. He is also referenced in the New Testament in the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke, where he delivers the message of the birth of John the Baptist to Zachariah.

Gabriel is often depicted in art holding a lily or a scroll, signifying his role as a messenger of God. He is considered the patron saint of messengers and ambassadors, as well as those who work in communications, such as journalists, postal workers, and telecommunication workers.

The Bible also tells us that Gabriel, along with the other archangels, is an guardian and protector of the faithful. He is also considered to be the Prince of the Seraphim, the highest order of angels in heaven and closest to God. This means that Gabriel holds an important role in the spiritual hierarchy of the angels and it is believed that he is responsible for the intercession of all the celestial beings.

Gabriel’s feast day is celebrated on September 29th, and he is invoked in various liturgical and sacramental celebrations of the Church. For example, he is invoked during the annunciation and when the faithful receive the sacrament of Confirmation.

The devotion to Gabriel the Archangel is present in the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Church, in different forms of art, literature, and architecture. His name is used in hymns, prayers and litanies, including the famous “”Hail Mary”” prayer which he is the messenger of the Angel in it.

In the Eastern Orthodox Church, Gabriel is considered one of the most important angels and is honored with a liturgical feast day. He is also revered in the Maronite Church, where he is considered to be the protector of Lebanon.

In art, St. Gabriel the Archangel is represented in various forms such as frescoes, statues, and paintings. Many churches and cathedrals have statues or paintings of Gabriel, and several churches are dedicated to him, such as the Basilica of Saint Gabriel in Rome.

The Life of St. Gabriel the Archangel

St. Gabriel is one of the three Angels honored by the Church with a special feast day. He is mentioned twice in the Book of Daniel (8:16; 9:21), and is called the “Strength of God”.

It was the Angel Gabriel who was sent to the priest Zachary, as he stood in the Temple at Jerusalem “on the right side of the altar of incense”, to announce that his wife Elizabeth would give birth to a son who would be the Precursor of the Savior. As Zachary was doubtful the Angel said to him: “I am Gabriel, who stand before God; and am sent to speak to thee, and to bring thee these good tidings. And behold thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be able to speak until the day wherein these things shall come to pass, because thou hast not believed my words, which shall be fulfilled in their time“. (Luke 1:11-20.)

Appearance to Mary

St. Gabriel’s chief mission to mankind, however, was his appearance to the Blessed Virgin Mary at Nazareth, to inform her that she had been chosen by God to be the Mother of the Messiah. (Luke 1:26.) St. Gabriel is called the “Strength of God”, either because this title was his right, as herald of the power of God; or because it was his duty to comfort the Virgin, who was naturally timid, simple and bashful, lest she should be affrighted at the novelty of the miracle. This he certainly did by saying: “Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God“. Thus was Gabriel fitly chosen for this work; because he was entrusted with so great a mission, rightly was so great a name assigned to him.

Prayer to St. Gabriel the Archangel

Prayer for the Intercession of St. Gabriel the Archangel

Blessed Saint Gabriel, Archangel

We beseech you to intercede for us at the throne of divine mercy:

As you announced the mystery of the Incarnation to Mary,

so through your prayers may we receive strength of faith and courage of spirit,

and thus find favor with God and redemption through Christ Our Lord.

May we sing the praise of God our Savior

with the angels and saints in heaven forever and ever.

Amen.

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Prayer for the Protection of St. Gabriel the Archangel

Heavenly King, You have given us archangels to assist us
during our pilgrimage on earth.
Saint Michael is our protector;
I ask him to come to my aid,
fight for all my loved ones,
and protect us from danger.
Saint Gabriel is a messenger of the Good News;
I ask him to help me clearly hear Your voice
and to teach me the truth.
Saint Raphael is the healing angel;
I ask him to take my need for healing and that of everyone I know,
lift it up to Your throne of grace and
deliver us back to the gift of recovery.
Help us, O Lord, to realize more fully the reality of archangels and their desire to serve us. Holy angels, pray for us.
Amen.

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Prayer to St. Gabriel the Archangel

Blessed Saint Gabriel, Archangel, we beseech you to intercede for us at the throne of divine mercy. As you announced the mystery of the Incarnation to Mary, so through your prayers may we receive strength of faith and courage of spirit, and thus find favor with God and redemption through Christ Our Lord. May we sing the praise of God our Savior with the angels and saints in heaven forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer to St. Gabriel the Messenger

Dear St. Gabriel,
You are a faithful messenger of God and bringer of good news.
Inspire us to listen to your message and to follow the will of the Lord.
Help us to trust in the guidance of the Holy Spirit and to always be open to the will of God.
May we be faithful servants of the Lord, just as you are.

Prayer to St. Gabriel Open us to Presence of God

Oh St. Gabriel, you appeared to Mary and announced the birth of Jesus.
Grant us the grace to receive the good news of the gospel with joy and faith.
Help us to be open to the presence of the Lord in our lives and to trust in His guidance.
May we follow your example and be messengers of hope and peace to those around us.

Prayer to St. Gabriel Defend us in Faith

St. Gabriel, Archangael of the Lord,
You are a powerful protector and defender of the faithful.
Grant us the grace to always be under the protection of the Lord, just as you are.
May we be guided by the Holy Spirit and never be afraid to do what is right.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

St. Gabriel the Archangel: The Patron Saint of Communications and Messengers

St. Gabriel the Archangel is recognized as the patron saint of communications and messengers. This designation stems from his role in the Bible as the messenger of God, bringing messages of hope and comfort to the faithful.

St. Gabriel is best known for his appearance to the Virgin Mary, announcing to her that she would be the mother of Jesus Christ. This event is recorded in the Gospel of Luke, and it is one of the most well-known stories in the Christian tradition.

In addition to his role as a messenger of God, St. Gabriel is also recognized as the patron saint of communications and messengers because of his role in delivering messages that help to build and strengthen the faith of the faithful. Through his work as a messenger, St. Gabriel helps to bring clarity and direction to the lives of those who seek to follow God, and he continues to inspire and encourage Catholics to live a life of faith and service.

As the patron saint of communications and messengers, St. Gabriel is often invoked by those who work in fields related to communication, such as journalists, broadcasters, and public speakers. He is also a popular saint for those who work as messengers, such as postal workers, couriers, and delivery drivers.

Through their own acts of service and advocacy, Catholics around the world strive to embody the ideals of St. Gabriel and to continue his mission of bringing messages of hope and comfort to the faithful. Whether through their work as communicators, messengers, or simply as members of the Church, St. Gabriel’s legacy continues to inspire and encourage Catholics to use their gifts and talents to serve God and their fellow man.

Reflection on the feast day of St. Gabriel the Archangel

The feast day of St. Gabriel the Archangel is celebrated on September 29th in the Catholic Church.

St. Gabriel the Archangel is one of the most powerful and mysterious figures in the Bible. He is known as the messenger of God, and is mentioned several times in both the Old and New Testaments. In the Book of Daniel, he is described as the one who stands in the presence of God, and in Luke’s Gospel, he is the one who announces the birth of John the Baptist and Jesus to Mary.

As we celebrate the feast day of St. Gabriel the Archangel, we are reminded of the powerful role that angels play in our lives. They are God’s messengers, sent to guide and protect us on our journey through life. They remind us that we are never alone, and that God is always with us, even in the darkest moments of our lives.

In the Bible, St. Gabriel is depicted as a powerful and mighty figure, and yet he is also gentle and compassionate. He is the one who brings good news to Mary, and helps her to understand the significance of her role in the birth of Jesus. He reminds us that even the most difficult and challenging situations can be transformed by God’s grace and love.

As we celebrate the feast day of St. Gabriel the Archangel, let us call on his powerful intercession, and ask him to guide and protect us on our journey through life. Let us also remember that just like St. Gabriel, we too have the opportunity to be messengers of God, spreading the good news of the Gospel to all those around us. May God bless us all.

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Saints Similar to St. Gabriel the Archangel

You may also be interested in reading the Biography of St. Gabriel Possenti and the Biography of St. Genesius. St. Gabriel the Archangel and St. Gabriel Possenti share the same name, “Gabriel,” and St. Genesius is an early Christian martyr, not directly connected to the other saints in the list. Next up: Biography of St. Gaetamo

 

Also check out our handmade St. Gabriel the Archangel Medal and St. Gabriel the Archangel Rosary and St. Gabriel the Archangel Rosary Bracelet .