St. Gabriel the Archangel, whose name means “strength of God,” is the messenger who explained visions to the prophet Daniel, announced the birth of John the Baptist to Zachary, and announced to the Virgin Mary that she would be the Mother of the Son of God. He is invoked for good news, for the gift of children, for clear communication and for the grace to say “yes” to God. This novena follows his appearances in Scripture in nine days: each day has a short reading, an intention, and the traditional prayer to St. Gabriel. It is often prayed from September 20 to 28, before the Feast of the Archangels on September 29, or before the Annunciation on March 25.
How to pray the novena
Each day:
- Make the Sign of the Cross and name your intention.
- Read the day’s passage of Scripture.
- Pray for the day’s intention in your own words.
- Pray the prayer to St. Gabriel below.
- End with an Our Father, a Hail Mary and a Glory Be.
The prayer to St. Gabriel (said every day)
From Father Lasance’s With God (1911):
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 prayers and patronage in heaven we may obtain the benefits of the same, and sing the praise of God forever in the land of the living. Amen.
Day 1: The angel who answers prayer
While Daniel was praying, Gabriel came “flying swiftly” to give him understanding (Daniel 9:21–23, Douay-Rheims):
As I was yet speaking in prayer, 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.
Intention: that God will hear the prayer I bring to this novena and help me to understand his will.
Day 2: Good news for the childless
Zachary and Elizabeth were old and had no children. Gabriel appeared to Zachary in the Temple (Luke 1:11–13, Douay-Rheims):
And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
And Zachary seeing him, was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
But the angel said to him: Fear not, Zachary, for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John:
Intention: for couples who long for a child, and for all who have waited a long time for an answer.
Day 3: Standing before God
When Zachary doubted, the angel told him who he was (Luke 1:19, Douay-Rheims):
And the angel answering, said to him: I am Gabriel, who stand before God: and am sent to speak to thee, and to bring thee these good tidings.
Intention: for the gift of faith when God’s promises seem impossible.
Day 4: Sent to Nazareth
Luke 1:26–27 (Douay-Rheims):
And in the sixth month, 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.
Intention: for the grace to recognize God’s messengers in the ordinary places of my life.
Day 5: “Hail, full of grace”
Luke 1:28 (Douay-Rheims):
And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
These words of Gabriel open the Hail Mary. Intention: for a deeper love of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Day 6: The Son of the Most High
Luke 1:31–35 (Douay-Rheims):
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.
Intention: for a living faith in Jesus, true God and true man.
Day 7: Nothing is impossible with God
Luke 1:37 (Douay-Rheims):
Because no word shall be impossible with God.
Intention: for my intention that seems impossible.
Day 8: “Be it done to me”
Luke 1:38 (Douay-Rheims):
And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
Intention: for the grace to say yes to God’s will, as Mary did.
Day 9: Thanksgiving
On the last day, thank God for his messengers and for the Incarnation of his Son, and pray the Angelus, which recalls Gabriel’s message to Mary three times a day.
Intention: in thanksgiving for every answer God gives me, even when it is not the one I expected.
Who is St. Gabriel?
Gabriel is one of the three archangels named in the Bible, with Michael and Raphael. He appears in the Book of Daniel (chapters 8 and 9) and in the first chapter of the Gospel of St. Luke. Tradition also sees him as the angel who strengthened Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, though Scripture does not give that angel’s name. He is the patron of messengers, postal workers, broadcasters and telecommunications. His feast, with St. Michael and St. Raphael, is September 29. See the St. Gabriel prayer.
Frequently asked questions
When is St. Gabriel’s feast day?
September 29, the Feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. In the older calendar it was March 24.
What is St. Gabriel the patron saint of?
Messengers, communications workers, postal workers and broadcasters.
When should I pray the novena to St. Gabriel?
From September 20 to 28, or from March 16 to 24 before the Annunciation, or at any time.
More prayers to the angels
- St. Gabriel prayer
- Feast of the Archangels
- Novena to St. Michael
- Novena to St. Raphael
- Angelus prayer
- Novenas
Texts and sources
- F. X. Lasance, With God (1911), Prayer to the Archangel Gabriel, public domain.
- Daniel 9:21–23; Luke 1:11–13, 1:19, 1:26–28, 1:31–35, 1:37 and 1:38 (Douay-Rheims).