St. Gabriel the Archangel

Gabriel's appearances in Scripture are precise and annunciatory. He comes to Daniel to explain the visions and set the times, illuminating what the prophet could not understand on his own. He stands before the altar of incense in the Temple and announces to Zechariah the coming birth of the one who will go before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah. He is sent to Nazareth with the greeting that begins the New Testament in the fullest sense. The name — God is my strength — and the consistent character of the angelic messenger across all three appearances are worth noting: Gabriel explains, interprets, announces, prepares. He is always at the point where the divine word breaks into human time.

The feast of the Annunciation itself falls on March 25 and carries its own weight. The Gabriel feast reflects on what it means to be the divine messenger par excellence — the archangel chosen to carry the most important announcement in the history of creation. Particular attention belongs to the word of greeting in Gabriel's salutation to Mary, to the full grace of her soul addressed by an archangel, and to the response of a human will freely given to a divine proposal. Gabriel is not a protagonist in the ordinary sense. He is perfectly transparent in his office, present not to be seen but to deliver a word. His feast falls the day before the Annunciation precisely because the messenger belongs to the day before the message is received.