Gabriel

Who they were

Gabriel is the archangel sent by God to Mary in St Luke's Gospel: 'Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you... you will conceive and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.' The Church sees in that announcement, and in Mary's yes, the moment the Word became flesh, celebrated on 25 March as the Annunciation. Gabriel had earlier announced to Zechariah the birth of John the Baptist.

Named several times in the Old and New Testaments, he is God's messenger above all. In 1951 Pope Pius XII declared him heavenly patron of telecommunications and those who work in them. Since the reform after the Second Vatican Council, Michael, Gabriel and Raphael are celebrated together on 29 September.

The miracles

Gabriel is an angel, not a human saint: there is no cause and no process. He is honoured in the Church's liturgy from Scripture itself.

Why that counted as sanctity

Gabriel is honoured as the messenger of the Incarnation, who brought God's word to Mary and received her answer. He is invoked as patron of all who carry messages and news.

Connected on this site

• John the Baptist Saint
  “In the New Testament Gospel of Luke, Gabriel appears to Zechariah foretelling the birth of John the Baptist.” — Wikipedia