Emmanuel was to bring forth the Blessed Fruit of her virginal Womb. Jesus was born amidst poverty; but Heaven willed that his Crib should be surrounded by fervent adorers. An Angel appeared to some Shepherds, inviting them to go to the Stable near Bethlehem. He is accompanied by a multitude of the heavenly army, sweetly singing their hymn : Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will! Who is this Angel that speaks to the Shepherds, and seems as the chief of the other blessed Spirits that are with him? In the opinion of several learned writers, it is the Archangel Gabriel, who is keeping up his ministry as Messenger of the Good Tidings.1 Lastly, when Jesus is suffering his Agony in the Garden of Gethsemani, an Angel appears to him, not merely as a witness of his suffering, but that he might strengthen him under the fear his Human Nature felt at the thought of the Chalice of the Passion he was about to drink.2 Who is this Angel? It is Gabriel, as we learn not only from the writings of several holy and learned authors, but also from a Hymn which the Holy See has permitted to be used in the Liturgy, and which we give below. These are the claims of the great Archangel to our veneration and love; these are the proofs he gives of his deserving his beautiful name, the Strength of God. God has employed him in each stage of the great work, in which he has chiefly manifested his power, for Jesus, even on his Cross, is the Power of God, as the Apostle tells us. Gabriel prepares the way for Jesus. He foretells the precise time of his Coming; he announces the birth of his Precursor; he is present at the solemn moment when the Word is made Flesh; he invites the Shepherds of Bethlehem to come to the Crib, and adore the Divine Babe; 1 St. Luke, ii. 10. 2 Ibid. xxii. 42, 43. 31 Cor. i. 24. and when Jesus, in his Agony, is to receive Strength from one of his own creatures, Gabriel is found ready in the Garden of Gethsemani, as he had been at Nazareth and Bethlehem. Let us, then, honour the Angel of the Incarnation. For this purpose, let us recite in his praise some of the pieces which liturgical piety has composed for his Feast. The two following Hymns are from the Franciscan Breviary. 1ST HYMN. Mentibus lætis jubilemus omnes, Plectra tangentes fidibus Plurimis Christum venerans ergo Exstat a summis Gabriel nus, Let us all exult with joyous hearts, and strike the tuneful lyre; 'tis the great Gabriel that comes in all his brightness from the high heavens. This is the feast of the glorious Virgin's Messenger, and with him comes the whole host of Angels, singing in varied hymns the praises of Christ, Let our choir, therefore, sing the praises of Gabriel the Prince, for he is one of the Seven that stand before the Lord, and do his biddings. Gabriel cheerfully descends whithersoever God wills, for he is the Messenger of heaven, nay the Mediator that reveals to the world the secret decrees of the Omnipotent God. Be thou, O Gabriel, we beseech thee, Messenger to us of the special gift of eternal peace, wherewith we may finally reach heaven, and ever- Quo poli tandem teneamus lastingly rejoice. May the Godhead ever blessed of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, whose glory is proclaimed through the whole world, grant us this our prayer. Amen. aulam Præstet hoc nobis Deitas Patris, ac Nati, pariterque omnem Gloria mundum. 2ND HYMN. 'Tis the midnight hour: quickly arise, and sing your new canticles to the Lord; for it was at this hour that was sent the most welcome messenger of life to the world. It was at this hour that the Virgin's womb brought forth our Lord, for the salvation of mankind and it was at the same, that he arose from the grave, having defeated his enemies. Let us, then, arise, and in our humble choral prayers, make supplication to the heavenly Spirits; let us pray especially to the God who gave us an Angel to guard us. What tongue of man could tell the blessings brought by Gabriel to the world? He it is that leads holy souls to heaven, there to contemplate our Lord. We beseech thee, therefore, great Prince, pray for us miserable sinners. Propitiate him that can do all things, Amen. En noctis medium: surgite propere, Cantemus Domino jam nova cantica; Hac hora Gabriel, nam fuit omnibus Vitæ nuntius optimus. Hac hora Dominum Virgineus alvus Humano generi protulit; insuper Devictis pariter funditus hostibus, Victor surgit ab inferis. Surgentes igitur mitibus invicem Oremus precibus cœlica Numina : Præsertim Dominum, qui dedit Angelum Curam qui gerit homi Fac et propitium, qui valet and obtain for us his pardon. omnia, Nobis ut veniam afferat. Amen. Amen. The Dominican Breviary contains this beautiful Hymn in honour of the Holy Archangel. HYMN. O Robur Domine, lucide Gabriel! Quem de principibus signat Emmanuel: A quo promeruit discere Hirci prodigium feri. Monstras hebdomadum sa crata tempora : Quæ nos ætherei germine Principis, Ditabunt bene gaudiis. Baptistæ pariter mira parentibus Affers a superis lætaque nuntia, Quod mater, sterili corpore, pignora Longævo pariet patri. Quod Vates referunt, mundi ab origine, Hoc sacræ veniens tu plene Virgini Longo mysterium pandis ab ordine, Verum quod pariet Deum. Pastores Solymos, inclyte, gaudiis Implesti, reserans cœlica nuntia : Et tecum celebrat turba canentium Nati mysterium Dei. Gabriel, Angel of light, and Strength of God! whom our Emmanuel selected from the rest of the heavenly Princes, that thou shouldst expound unto Daniel the mystery of the savage goat. Thou didst joyfully hasten to the Prophet as he prayed, and didst tell him of the sacred Weeks, which were to give us the birth of the King of Heaven, and enrich us with plenteous joy. 'Twas thou didst bring to the parents of the Baptist the wondrous and gladsome tidings, that Elizabeth, though barren, and Zachary, though old, should have a son. What the Prophets had foretold from the beginning of the world, this thou didst announce in all the fulness of the mystery to the Holy Virgin, telling her that she was to be the true Mother of God. Thou, fair spirit, didst fill the Bethlehem Shepherds with joy, when thou didst tell them the heavenly tidings; and with thee a host of Angels sang the praises of the NewBorn God. As Jesus was in prayer on that last night, when a bloody sweat bathed his limbs, thou didst leave heaven to be near him, and offer him the Chalice that his Father willed him to drink. O Blessed Trinity! strengthen Catholic hearts with the heavenly gift of Faith. Give us grace, as we to thee give glory for ever. Amen. Oranti Domino nocte novissima, Dum sudor madidum sanguine conficit, Adstas a superis, ut calicem bibat, Assensum patris indi cans. Mentes catholicas, inclyta Da nobis gratiam, nos quo- Per cuncta tibi sæcula. The whole human race is indebted to thee, O Gabriel and, on this day, we would fain pay thee the honour and gratitude we owe thee. Thou wast moved to holy compassion when seeing the miseries of the world; for all flesh had corrupted its way, and the forgetfulness of God increased with each new generation of men. Then did the Most High commission thee to bring to the world the good tidings of its Salvation. How beautiful thy steps, O Prince of the heavenly court, as thou camest down to this our humble sphere! How tender and fraternal is thy love of man, whose nature, though so inferior to thine own, was to be raised, by the mystery of the Incarnation, to union with God himself! With what respectful awe didst thou not approach the Virgin, who surpassed all the Angels in holiness! Blessed Messenger of our Redemption ! whom God selects as his Minister when he would show his power, we beseech thee, offer the homage of our gratitude to Him that thus sent thee. Help us to pay the immense debt we owe to the Father, who so loved the world, as to give it his Only Begotten Son;1 to the Son, who emptied himself, taking the form of 1 St. John, iii. 16. |