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Prayer — Novenas

Novena to St. Gabriel the Archangel

Indulgenced as a novena by Pius IX, 26 November 1876; prayer from Our Favorite Novenas, 1897

Nine days with the messenger of the Incarnation, 'that Jesus may be to us, indeed, a Saviour' — the 1897 manual's prayer, with the antiphon and collect of Gabriel's feast.

The Prayer

English · Original

PRAYER (each day)
O blessed Archangel Gabriel, we beseech thee, do thou intercede for us at the throne of divine mercy in our present necessities, that, as thou didst announce to Mary the mystery of the Incarnation, so through thy patronage and prayers we may obtain the fruits of our Lord's mission among men: that Jesus may be to us, indeed, a Saviour, that we may one day see Him face to face, and with all the angels and the saints sing His praise forever. Amen.

(Here name the intention of the novena.)

Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be.

Ant. Most glorious Prince, Gabriel the Archangel, be mindful of us: pray for us always, both here and everywhere, to the Son of God.
V. An angel stood beside the altar of the temple.
R. Having a golden censer in his hand.

Let us pray.
O God, who among all the angels didst choose the Archangel Gabriel to announce the mystery of thine Incarnation: mercifully grant that we who keep his feast on earth may feel his patronage in heaven. Who livest and reignest for ever and ever. Amen.

When the Prayer is Said

Before 29 September or before the Annunciation (25 March); for expectant mothers; for those who carry the Gospel.

History & Background

The same rescript of Pius IX that indulgenced the novenas to Michael and Raphael covered Gabriel, again 'with any formula of prayer, provided it be approved by competent ecclesiastical authority'. Our Favorite Novenas (1897) supplied this short prayer, which asks Gabriel for the fruits of what he announced: that the Saviour whose coming he told to Mary may be a Saviour to us.

Gabriel's feast stood on 24 March, the eve of the Annunciation, until 1969; the novena is now most often made before 29 September, or before the Annunciation itself, or at any time.

A novena is nine consecutive days (or nine consecutive weeks of one fixed day) of the same prayer for the same intention; a day missed breaks it, and it is begun again. Confession and Communion during the nine days, or on the last, were the ordinary conditions for the plenary indulgence.

Indulgences Attached

Three hundred days each day and a plenary indulgence during the novena — Pius IX, 26 November 1876 (Raccolta, 1910, no. 294).

Related Saints

St. Gabriel the Archangel

Created before the world – Immortal

All Prayers