Commemoration of St. Gabriel, Archangel (March 24)

 In the Old Rite calendar today is the Commemoration of St. Gabriel, Archangel.

Leonardo da Vinci
Gaḇrīʾēl (גַבְרִיאֵל) meaning "God is my strength" or 'man of God' or 'God has shown might.'

Gabriel is, in accordance with his name, the angel of the Power of God, and it is worth while noting the frequency with which such words as “great,” “might,” “power,” and “strength” occur in the biblical passages connected to Gabriel. The Jews indeed seem to have dwelt particularly upon this feature in Gabriel’s character, and he is regarded by them as the angel of judgment, while Michael is called the angel of mercy. As Christians we can see a reverse of rols in the new testament as Michael will help bring justice to this world and Gabriel, by his announcement to Mary, brought mercy.

Only four appearances of Gabriel are recorded in the Old Testament, he appears in Daniel (8, 9, 10 & 12) where Gabriel lifted up Daniel who had fallen and prophesied the venue of the Messiah. It is Gabriel who we can thank for the the mysterious prophecy of the "seventy weeks" in Daniel.
In New Testament he can be found in Luke 1 where he foretells Zachary the birth of the Precursor, and later he visits Mary (Maria) and announces to her: "You will have a son who is of the Spirit of God." He also preached the good news to the shepherds of Bethlehem on the holy night

Following this tradition, an ancient Latin prayer entitled “O Fortitudo Dei” is often prayed, seeking the intercession of St. Gabriel.

O Strength of God, Saint Gabriel, thou who announcedst to the Virgin Mary the incarnation of the only-begotten Son of God, I praise thee and honor thee, O elect spirit. I humbly beg thee, with Jesus Christ our Savior and with His Blessed Mother, to be my advocate. I also pray that thou wouldst comfort me and strengthen me in all my difficulties, lest at any time I may be overcome by temptation and I might offend God by sinning. Amen.

O FORTITUDO Dei, sancte Gabriel, qui virgini Mariae incarnationem unigeniti Filii Dei annuntiasti, laudo et veneror te, o electe Spiritus, et supplex oro, ut meus apud Iesum Christum, Salvatorem nostrum, et eius benedictam matrem advocatus esse, atque in omnibus angustiis me solari et corroborare velis, ne ullis unquam tentationibus superatus, Deum meum peccato offendam. Amen.

The Old Rite Calendar keeps us on our toes throughout the year. Gabriel's Feast Day importantly and poignantly points to tomorrow's day (the painting gives the clue).

The more I dive into the Old Rite the more I find malice in the New Rite (today is empty in such a remembrance).