SAINT GABRIEL

Archangel

WEDNESDAY OF PASSION WEEK

GREATER DOUBLE / WHITE
Gabriel the Archangel announced to Daniel the time of the coming of the Messias (Dan. 9:21), and to Zachary the future birth of the Precursor of the Word Incarnate (Luke 1:10). Then came the sublime message to Mary at Nazareth and the God-inspired salutation, "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women" (Luke 1:28).
In the "Hail Mary," the words of the Angel of the Annunciation have been repeated through the centuries by countless millions of human beings. Thrice daily the church bells ring the "Angelus" to recall through the ages how the strong angel who stands before God bowed in reverence to a humble Jewish virgin, soon to become the Mother of Christ and the Queen of heaven and earth.
INTROIT (Ps. 102:20)Bless the Lord, all you His angels, you mighty in strength who do His bidding, obeying the voice of His commands.
Ps. 102:1. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and let all my being bless His holy name.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
O God, from among all the angels You chose the archangel Gabriel as the messenger of the mystery of Your Incarnation. May his intercession in heaven help us as we celebrate his feast on earth; who lives and rules with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.

Commemoration of WEDNESDAY OF PASSION WEEK
O God, sanctify the Lenten fast and in Your mercy enlighten the hearts of Your faithful. Hear the prayers of those who, by Your grace, call upon You with devotion. Through Our Lord . . .

LESSON (Dan. 9:21-26)
In those days, behold the man, Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, flying swiftly, touched me at the time of the evening sacrifice. And he instructed me, and spoke to me, and said: "O Daniel, I am now come forth to teach thee, and that thou mightest understand. From the beginning of thy prayers the word came forth: and I am come to shew it to thee, because thou art a man of desires: therefore, do thou mark the word, and understand the vision.
"Seventy weeks are shortened upon thy people, and upon thy holy city, that transgression may be finished, and sin may have an end, and iniquity may be abolished; and everlasting justice may be brought; and vision and prophecy may be fulfilled; and the Saint of saints may be anointed.
Know thou, therefore, and take notice: that from the going forth of the word, to build up Jerusalem again, unto Christ, the prince, there shall be seven weeks, and sixty-two weeks: and the street shall be built again, and the walls, in straitness of times. And after sixty-two weeks Christ shall be slain: and the people that shall deny him shall not be his. And a people, with their leader, that shall come, shall destroy the city, and the sanctuary: and the end thereof shall be waste, and after the end of the war the appointed desolation."

GRADUAL (Ps. 102:20, 1)
Bless the Lord, all you His angels, you mighty in strength who do His bidding. V. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and let all my being bless His holy name.

TRACT (Luke 1:28, 42, 32, 35)
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. V. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb! V. Behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Emmanuel. V. The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee. V. And therefore the Holy One to be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

GOSPEL (Luke 1:26-38)
At that time, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David: and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel being come in, said unto her: "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women." Who having heard, was troubled at his saying and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said to her: "Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God. Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb and shalt bring forth a son: and thou shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father: and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever. And of his kingdom there shall be no end."
And Mary said to the angel: "How shall this be done, because I know not man?" And the angel answering, said to her: "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And behold thy cousin Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren. Because no word shall be impossible with God." And Mary said: "Behold the handmaid of the Lord: be it done to me according to thy word."

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON (Apoc. 8:3, 4)
An angel stood before the altar, having a golden censer in his hand; and there was given to him much incense, and the smoke of the incense went up before God.

SECRET
Accept the offering of our gift and the prayers of the blessed archangel Gabriel, O Lord. May he whom we venerate on earth be our advocate before You in heaven. Through Our Lord . . .
 
Commemoration of WEDNESDAY OF PASSION WEEK
O merciful God, hear us, and grant that we may offer this sacrifice of praise and reparation with true devotion. Through Our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTIPHON (Dan. 3:58)
All you angels of the Lord, bless the Lord; sing a hymn of praise and exalt Him above all forever.

POSTCOMMUNION
We have received the Sacrament of Your Body and Blood, O Lord our God. may Gabriel, who brought us the news of Your Incarnation, help us to obtain the benefits of it; who lives and rules with God . . .

Commemoration of WEDNESDAY OF PASSION WEEK
O Almighty God, we humbly beg the heavenly blessings of Your Sacrament which we have received. May it bring us Your grace and salvation. Through Our Lord . . .