March 24th - St. Gabriel Archangel
The day before the great feast of the Annunciation, the Church celebrates
the
feast of the Archangel who brought to earth the glad tidings that Mary was
chosen to be the Mother of the Incarnate God.
This angelic Messenger appears several times in the history of God's
chosen
people. He came to Daniel the prophet after he had a vision of the future
Persian and Greek empires, to explain the vision to him, as Daniel
narrates in
the eighth chapter of his book. So great was the Archangel's majesty that
the
prophet fell on his face trembling.
The Angel of the Incarnation again appeared to the prophet to answer his
prayer
at the end of the exile, and advise him of the exact date of the future
Redemption by the long-awaited Messiah.
When the fullness of time had come, Gabriel was sent several times as the
harbinger of the Incarnation of the Most High God. First, to the Temple of
Jerusalem, while Zachary stood at the altar of incense, to tell him that
his
wife Elizabeth would bring forth a son to be called John, who would
prepare the
way of the Lord. (Luke 1:17) Six months later the great Archangel again
appeared, bearing the greatest message God ever sent to earth. Standing
before
the Blessed Virgin Mary, this great Archangel of God trembled with
reverence as
he offered Her the ineffable honor of becoming Mother of the Eternal Word.
Upon
Her consent, "the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us." It was he, we
can
readily believe, who also fortified Saint Joseph for his mission as
virginal
father of the Saviour.
Gabriel rightly bears the beautiful name, the strength of God, manifesting
in
every apparition the power and glory of the Eternal. According to some of
the
Fathers of the Church, it was Saint Gabriel, Angel of the Incarnation, who
invited the shepherds of Bethlehem to come to the Crib to adore the
newborn God.
He was with Jesus in His Agony, no less ready to be the strength of God in
the
Garden than at Nazareth and Bethlehem. Throughout Christian tradition he
is the
Angel of the Incarnation, the Angel of consolation, the Angel of mercy.
Sources: Lives of the Saints for Every Day of the Year, edited by Rev.
Hugo
Hoever, S.O. Cist., Ph.D. Catholic Book Publi****ng Co. (New York:
1951-1955); La
Sainte Bible commentée, Ed. Abbé L.-Cl. Fillion (Letouzey et Ané: Paris,
1903),
Vol. VI, pp. 298-303, notes.
Saint Quote
Make Christ more visible than we ourselves.
--Blessed Maria Karlowska
Bible Quote:
Do you think that I came to give peace upon the earth? No, I tell you, but
division. For henceforth in one house five will be divided, three against
two,
and two against three... And a man's enemies will be those of his own
household.
St. Luke 12:51-52/St. Matthew 10:36
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St. Anthony's prayer for the help of the Holy Spirit
O God, Send forth your Holy Spirit;
into my heart - that I may perceive,
into my mind - that I may remember,
and into my soul - that I may meditate.
Inspire me to speak with piety,
holiness, tenderness, and mercy.
Teach, guide, and direct my thoughts
and senses from the beginning to the end.
May your grace ever help and correct me,
and may I be strengthened now
with wisdom from on high,
for the sake of your infinite mercy.
St. Anthony of Padua
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