The archangel St. Gabriel is honored on Sept. 29 along with two other archangels: St. Michael and St. Raphael.

St. Thomas Aquinas summed up why the Blessed Virgin Mary was venerated by the angel Gabriel: In olden time an Angel would not show reverence to a man, but a man would deeply revere an Angel.

The St. Gabriel Prayer: O Blessed Archangel Gabriel, we beseech thee, ... Angel of health, the Lord has filled your hand with balm from heaven to soothe or cure our pains.