S. Gabriel the Archangel| Video| Daily Meditation| Daily Quote by S. Padre Pio| Divine Mercy Reflection
Today in the Latin Calendar, we commemorate the Feast Day of S. Gabriel the Archangel. This Feast Day was initially placed on the Roman Calendar in 1921 but was revised in 1970 to include SS. Michael and Raphael with the Feast Day occurring on September 29 in Ordinary Time. In the Latin Calendar the date still remains on March 24 as the Feast Day for S. Gabriel.
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Another Story:
March 24 was the original feast day of St. Gabriel the Archangel. You might know that he delivered the message to Mary saying that she was going to be the Mother of God, but what else do you know? Most saints are people who started out just like us. They made mistakes, but the key was that they got back up and got closer to God because of it.
But St. Gabriel the Archangel is an angel, making him very close to God. In fact, he was a very important angel. One could say that he had the most important job in history, besides perhaps, Mary. Gabriel was the messenger to Mary. He delivered the message to her from God that she had been chosen to carry and deliver the Son of God. However, not many people know that that was the last job he had that was mentioned in the Bible.
Before that, he had to deliver some other messages too. First, Gabriel appears to the Prophet Daniel in his sleep to explain the visions he was having. Then, he appears to Zacharias to tell him that his wife Elizabeth, Mary’s cousin, is pregnant. After this visit is when he appears to Mary to tell her that she will give birth to the Son of God. Originally, his feast day was on March 24, the day before the Annunciation. However in 1969, after Vatican II, it was changed to September 29 so that the feast day would be together with the other archangels, Michael and Raphael. It can be good to pray through the intercession of St. Gabriel because is obviously very close to God.
God entrusted Gabriel with the delivering of the most important message of the Catholic faith, as well as other messages. Because of this, he is the patron saint of messengers, telecommunications workers, and postal workers.
Daily Meditation
I Must Keep Going:
What I desire is to be faithful and to finish the race. It does not matter if I finish running or crawling; all I want ro do is to finish and hear the Father say to me, "Well done, good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:23).
Quote by S. Padre Pio:
Is it possible...that God is not present in that soul, when he has committed himself by His infallible word to be with that soul in the time of tribulations?
Divine Mercy Reflection
Reflections on Notebook One: 11-111
This first notebook of Saint Faustina begins her private revelations given from the Heart of Jesus to her. She writes in a beautiful and simple way. Though, as mentioned in the introduction to this book, her actual words are not quoted in these reflections that follow, the messages that she received and articulated are presented.
In truth, her messages are those contained in Sacred Scripture and in the Tradition of our Church. And if you were to read through the lives and teachings of the saints, you would find the same revelations. God has always spoken to us throughout the ages. He speaks the one Message of Truth, and He reveals that Message in love. The revelations to Saint Faustina are one new way that God continues to speak and reveal Himself to us, His sons and daughters.
The reflections in this first chapter, based on the first notebook, are intentionally short and focused. They are a way for you, the reader, to slowly and carefully listen to the Heart of God spoken to this great saint. Read these reflections slowly and prayerfully. Ponder them throughout the day and allow the Lord to speak to You the message He wants to give.
Reflection 83: Pray Always
Praying “always” may seem like an impossible task. Is it really possible to do so? Does God even expect this of us? It most certainly is and He most certainly does. No, we will not be called to spend all day, every day, at church in prayer. Not even those called to the cloistered monastic life do as such. But praying always is a must. It simply means that we have developed such a habit of closeness to God that our hearts are always with Him. We are always attentive to His presence and are always in communion with His grace. If we form this interior love for God, we will be praying always (See Diary #346).
Think about your day. What occupies your mind and heart most of the time? Do you spend excessive time daydreaming about things that have nothing to do with our Lord and the plan He has for you? Work at establishing a habit of prayer. Pray deeply and wholeheartedly at various moments of the day giving prayer your full attention. And then, throughout the day, try to let those moments of prayer sustain you and remain with you, carrying you on throughout all that you do.
Lord, help me to know how to pray. Instill within me a deep habit of prayer. Help me to regularly take moments, each day, when all I do is focus on You, seeking You out. And help me to bring those moments into everything I do so that my mind and heart may always be in communion with You. My Lord, I love You, help me to love You more. Jesus, I trust in You.