The Archangel Gabriel

Gabriel is one of the seven archangels of Judaism and one the the three generally recognised by modern Christianity Although he is not mentioned much by name in the Christian Bible he is clearly of great significance and often the target of prayer.

As an archangel, Gabriel is near the top of the angelic hierarchy. He was used by God as a messenger, usually for highly significant events such as the birth of Jesus, and is sometimes referred to as the Left Hand of God.

Appearance

So what does Gabriel look like? Traditional depictions of Gabriel have distinctly martial connotatons. He is usually associated with fire and said to ride a sword. Sometimes these two images are combined into a mighty flaming sword used as his symbol. Words such as "strength" and "power" and similar meaning are often used in relation to him. In various traditions he has been classed as both the Angel of Mercy and the Angel of Judgement.

The feast day of Gabriel was originally in March, however today it is more commonly combined wth that of Michael and Raphael on September 29th.

As befits his messenger role, St Gabriel is the patron saint of postal and communications workers.