(the real one, not the school)
At my suggestion, Bishop Zubik named our newly consolidated school after the Archangel Gabriel. St. Gabriel enjoys a link to each of the patronal names of the RocKenRo churches:
Archangel Gabriel holds the same rank as the other named archangels of the Bible: Ss. Michael and Raphael. In Tobit 12:15, Saint Raphael describes himself as “one of the seven holy angels who…enter into the presence of the glory of the Holy One.” We may infer that St. Raphael therefore perpetually beholds the Holy Trinity, and St. Gabriel does likewise.
In the Bible (Daniel 8:16, 9:21; Luke 1:19), the Archangel Gabriel’s chief responsibility is to make known God’s plan for the salvation of his people. St. Malachy is most famous for his analogous gift of prophecy, though he was also an instrument of salvation in other sense—the restoration and revitalization of the Church in Ireland.
The Archangel Gabriel is best known for the Annunciation: The moment when he announces the conception of Jesus to the blessed virgin Mary. The principal church of St. John of God Parish is St. Mary, Help of Christians.
St. Gabriel is also the eponymous angel of a beloved prayer, “The Angelus,” weaving together several biblical tropes and traditionally said by Catholics at morning, noon, and evening.
V/. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary,
R/. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you;
blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
V/. Behold the handmaid of the Lord,
R/. Be it done unto me according to your Word.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you;
blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
V/. And the Word was made flesh,
R/. And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you;
blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
V/. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,
R/. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
V/. Let us pray.
R/. Pour forth, we beseech you, O Lord, your grace into our hearts: that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ your Son was made known by the message of an Angel, may by his Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of his Resurrection. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
—Fr. Dave
