St. Gabriel of the Most Sorrowful Virgin

Confessor

Feast Day - February 27

Gabriel, born at Assisi in Umbria and called Francis in memory of his seraphic fellow-citizen, gave evidence of great intellectual gifts.

As a young man, when by the gift of God’s mercy he had already been called to a more perfect life, he fell ill and began to weary of the vanity of the world.

Entering the Passionist congregation, he chose the name Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin, in order to keep in mind continually both the joys and the sorrows of the Virgin Mary. Honoring Her in every way, he was accustomed particularly to contemplating Her as worn out and afflicted by Jesus’ sufferings, with such sorrow that he shed a flood of tears.

He kept his virginity intact and, following the strict usage of his congregation, he lived wholly crucified to the world, for God alone.

Thus he completed his short life in the exercise of all virtues; consumed by the fire of charity rather than by the force of his illness and refreshed by the aid of God’s Mother, he went to Heaven in the year 1862.

Pope Pius X numbered him among the Blessed; Benedict XV, among the Saints; and Pius XI extended his Office and Mass to the universal Church.

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