Now don’t give up guessing just like that! You’ve got this one. Think about it…
- Every written record of this saint involves him delivering an important message to someone.
- He is way faster (and we mean way faster) at delivering messages than the Post Office, the Pony Express, Amazon Prime, or any server that ever delivered an email.
- Today is his feast day in the older calendar of the Church. The placement of his feast pretty much gives his identity away.
Do you have a guess?
If you’re thinking St. Gabriel the Archangel, you are correct!
St. Gabriel, as depicted by Titian in the Averoldi Altarpiece
We first meet St. Gabriel in the Old Testament Book of Daniel, in which he speaks to the prophet Daniel about the future of Israel.
At the beginning of Luke’s Gospel, he is sent to Zechariah to announce the birth of St. John the Baptist.
And in tomorrow’s Gospel—also from Luke—for the great Solemnity of the Annunciation, we will hear about Gabriel’s most glorious task: the greatest message he ever delivered.
It was the good news of the Incarnation, the coming of the Messiah, the message given to a humble virgin named Mary in the little town of Nazareth. Though he was one of God’s most noble creations, Gabriel knelt before this maiden, whom he knew to be the future Mother of God and Queen of the Angels:
“Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee,” he said. “Blessed art thou among women…Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus.
He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the most High; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father; and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever. And of his kingdom there shall be no end.”
—Luke 1:28, 31-33
Let us honor St. Gabriel today—and repeat often the words that he taught us: “Hail Mary, full of grace.”
Though the messages we send are not as critical as St. Gabriel’s—and won’t be delivered with angelic speed—a hand-written note can bring God’s light into someone’s day. Our Daisies Collection Note Cards—adorned with simple, artful florals and text such as “Praying for You”—are the perfect thing when you need to send an uplifting message to a friend. Available today at The Catholic Company!
