Light from the Altar - Saint Gabriel, 18 March

From the gentle Saint Patrick we come to the great Archangel Gabriel. Dare we ask him to bo our companion? Oh, yes. God's children may be very daring. They have seen God the Son made man, passing about among he sons of men. They may confidently dwell with the angels. Besides, this dear angel was often sent by God with messages to men. True, they were great and holy men; but if we are humble God is wonderfully long-suffering and patient with our infirmities. Gabriel's first message to earth, as far as we know, was to Daniel, that "man of desires," the prophet of olden time, to instruct him in many things. At first Daniel was so awe-stricken at the angel's apparition, though he was in the figure of a man, that he fell flat to the ground. But the angel "touched him and set him upright." and opened his understanding and taught him. Another day, when Daniel "was praying and confessing his sins, Gabriel, flying swiftly, touched him at the time of the evening sacrifice," and again instructed him. Many hundreds of years later, Gabriel came to Zachary, the Jewish priest, in the Temple. This visit was also at the hour of evening sacrifice, when the holy old man was at prayer. We know the beautiful story - how Zachary and Elizabeth were promised a little son who was to be the Lord's precursor, how he doubted the angel's word, and how a dumbness came upon him and he was not able to speak for nine months. Once again, and only a little later as the earth's time goes, again Gabriel was sent on a message, and then he brought the greatest news that ever was told. His message was to the Virgin of Nazareth, espoused to a man called Joseph. And before he left the little home the greatest mystery of time and eternity was wrought - "the Word was made Flesh." A great deal to think of here, is there not? Much food for meditation. But we must pass on. We have not far to go. Indeed, we need not leave the angel's company, for he has been with Mary, who was espoused to Joseph, and we can go together to the holy Patriarch.

- taken from Light from the Altar, edited by Father James J McGovern, 1906