Saint Gabriel the Archangel, Messenger of God

Saint Gabriel the Archangel is the supreme Herald of God sent to communicate pivotal revelations of salvation history. In the Old Testament, Gabriel revealed to the Prophet Daniel the prophecy of the seventy weeks and the coming of the Messiah. In the New Testament, Gabriel appeared in the Temple sanctuary to the priest Zechariah to announce the birth of Saint John the Baptist. Six months later, Gabriel was sent by God to Nazareth to convey the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary, greeting her with the angelic salutation: "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee." Gabriel's words form the bedrock of the Hail Mary prayer, honoring the mysteries of the Incarnation and divine redemption.