Gabriel the Archangel
Gabriel the Archangel
(Hebrew: hero of God)
One of the seven angels who “stand before God.” Mention of him occurs four times in the Bible; he foretold the destruction of the Persian Empire by Alexander the Great and its division among his generals after his death (Daniel 8), interpreted to Daniel the Messianic visions (Daniel 9); predicted to Zachary the birth of the precursor (Luke 1); and announced to Mary that she was to be the mother of God (Luke 1). The Jews venerated Gabriel as the angel of judgment and placed him after Michael; Christian tradition holds that it was he who appeared to Saint Joseph and the angels , and who strengthened Our Lord in the garden at Gethsemane. Patron of postal employees. Feast , Roman Calendar, 24 March .