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St. Gabriel the Archangel is one of the three archangels mentioned in the Bible, and was entrusted with some of the most important tasks given by God.
He is best known for having delivered the message to the Blessed Virgin Mary that she would bear Jesus. This event is commemorated each year on March 25, the Solemnity of the Annunciation.
Outside of this day, the Church has set aside various feasts to honor God's holy messenger.
Feasts of St. Gabriel the Archangel
In the General Calendar of the Roman Rite, St. Gabriel is chiefly celebrated on September 29 along with the other archangels: on the feast of the Holy Archangels, Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael.
While this is the primary feast, the Church also has two additional feasts, even though these feasts are not observed by every Catholic.
The first is the feast of St. Gabriel celebrated on March 24, the day before the Annunciation.
According to Michael Foley, this feast was instituted by Pope Benedict XV in 1921, who sought to give special attention to the archangel Gabriel.
Pope Benedict XV wrote the following words when he instituted this feast:
It is no less fitting as well, for the increase of piety and of actual association with the Holy Family, to commemorate with religious celebration the divine mission of both Archangels, namely, Saint Gabriel for announcing the mystery of the Lord’s Incarnation, and Saint Raphael, whose kindnesses bestowed on the family of Tobias are described in the Sacred Scriptures.
This feast is no longer on the General Calendar, but is still observed by those who follow the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite.
The second feast of St. Gabriel is observed on March 26, the day after the Annunciation.
It is called the Synaxis of the Archangel Gabriel, and is included on the calendar of many Eastern Catholics as well as Eastern Orthodox Christians.
The Kontakion for this feast refers to St. Gabriel's role as messenger:
O commander of angels, minister of holy glory and messenger of God himself, all-mysterious, and exalted Trinity. Pray that we be delivered from trials and sorrows so that we might sing: Rejoice, for you protect your servants.
St. Gabriel is a very important angel, who faithfully performed his duties and played a pivotal role in salvation history.
