(Hebrew: hero of God)
One of the seven angels who "stand before God." Mention of him occurs four times in the Bible; he foretold the destruction of the Persian Empire by Alexander the Great and its division among his generals after his death (Daniel 8), interpreted to Daniel the Messianic visions (Daniel 9); predicted to Zachary the birth of the precursor (Luke 1); and announced to Mary that she was to be the mother of God (Luke 1). The Jews venerated Gabriel as the angel of judgment and placed him after Michael; Christian tradition holds that it was he who appeared to Saint Joseph and the angels, and who strengthened Our Lord in the garden at Gethsemane. Patron of postal employees. Feast, Roman Calendar, March 24,.
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