Additional Information

History Of Archangel Gabriel

The name Gabriel means "man of God," or "God has shown himself mighty." It appears first in the prophesies of Daniel in the Old Testament. The angel announced to Daniel the prophecy of the seventy weeks. His name also occurs in the apocryphal book of Henoch. He was the angel who appeared to Zachariah to announce the birth of St. John the Baptizer. Finally, he announced to Mary that she would bear a Son Who would be conceived of the Holy Spirit, Son of the Most High, and Savior of the world.

Archangel Gabriel is considered the Archangel of Dreams, Premonitions and Clairvoyance. This came about after Archangel Gabriel helped Daniel to understand the significance and symbolism of his strange dreams (Daniel 8:16-27).  In 98 C.E. a strange letter containing "the Commandments of Jesus Christ" appeared. It was supposedly written by Archangel Gabriel and became a relic of the early church. The originals of this letter have never been produced, but copies were sold in England as lucky charms to provide safe childbirth and to protect the owner from evil and harm. In the Christian tradition, Archangel Gabriel will blow the horn to wake the dead on Judgment Day.

Archangel Gabriel has pre-eminence in the first and greatest order of heavenly powers, that is, the Seraphic Order, since the Seraphim stand closest to God. Archangel Gabriel is, therefore, one of the seven Seraphim, closest to God. The names of the seven are Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Salathiel, Jegudiel, Barachiel. To this number some even add Jeremiel. Each one has their own particular service and all are equal in honor. Why did God not send Michael? Because Michael's service is to suppress the enemies of the Faith of God while Gabriel's is the mission of announcing the salvation of mankind.

Archangel Gabriel is the announcer of the Incarnation of the Son of God. He is one of the seven archangels who stand before the Throne of God. Archangel Gabriel appeared to Zacharias about the birth of the Forerunner. Archangel Gabriel said of himself: "I am Gabriel, who stands before God" (St. Luke 1:19). His name Gabriel means "Man - God." The Holy Fathers, in speaking about the Annunciation, interpret that an archangel with such a name was sent to signify who and what He would be like, who must be born of the All-Pure One. Therefore, He will be Man-God, a unique and powerful God. Some of the Fathers understood that this same Archangel Gabriel appeared to Joachim and Anna concerning the birth of the Virgin Mary and that Archangel Gabriel instructed Moses in the wilderness to write the Book of Genesis.

Linked with this, other appearances of the Archangel Gabriel in Christianity are commemorated, such as his appearing to Moses when he was keeping  Jethro's flocks, when he revealed to this great man, chosen by God, how the world was created and all the rest that Moses later wrote down in the Book of Genesis; his appearing to Daniel and the imparting of the mystery of the kingdoms to come and the coming of the Savior; his appearing to St. Anna and the promise of a daughter, the most blessed and pure Virgin Mary; his very brief appearing to the holy Virgin while she was living in the Temple in Jerusalem; his appearing to Zacharias the high priest and the news of the birth of John the Forerunner, and the punishing of the same with dumbness because he did not believe the angel's words.

As stated in the bible, Gabriel is "The bearer of God's secret messages to His chosen ones". One of the two highest ranking angels. Gabriel is the angel of the moon who brings man the gift of hope. He is the spirit of truth and the prince of justice. He is the alchemy of psychism, intuition, and receptivity. According to legend, it is Gabriel who will blow the horn announcing the second coming of Christ.