St. Gabriel the Archangel (M 035) Notebook

St. Gabriel (“God’s Strength”) is best known as the Archangel of the Annunciation bringing the Good News to the Virgin Mary that God has chosen her to be the mother of His Son Jesus (Luke 1:26-45). + Here, St. Gabriel is sumptuously dressed in fabrics of red, blue, and green with trims of reddish gold. Head bowed, eyes downcast--in his left hand, he holds a spray of lilies that symbolize Mary’s purity; and, with his right hand, he makes a speaking gesture. + St. Gabriel is the patron of messengers, postal employees, stamp collectors, and telecommunications workers. + Feast (joint with SS. Michael and Raphael the Archangels): September 29 + Image Credit (M 035): Antique image of St. Gabriel with Lilies entitled The Angel of the Annunciation by the Italian Baroque painter Carlo Dolci (1616-1686), Galleria Palatina, Palazzo Pitti, Florence, c. 1650, from a postcard originally published in chromolithography by Stengel, Dresden, Germany, No. 29333, c. 1900, from the designer’s private collection of religious ephemera. + Image Credit (Background): White Easter Lilies with Blue Flowers, from an antique postcard originally published by Visto Rev., Milan, Italy, early 20th century, from the designer’s private collection of ephemera.