Our Lady of Guadalupe

Date: February, 27

Saint Gabriel was an Italian Passionist clerical student. Born to a professional family, he gave up ambitions of a secular career to enter the Passionist congregation.

His life in the monastery was not extraordinary, yet he followed the rule of the congregation perfectly and was known for his great devotion to the sorrows of the Virgin Mary. He died from tuberculosis at the age of 23 in Isola del Gran Sasso, in the province of Teramo.

He was canonized by Pope Benedict XV in 1920. Saint Gabriel, born Francisco Possenti was born in Assisi on March 1, 1838, (March 1, 1838 – February 27, 1862), the eleventh child of Sante Possenti and Agnes Frisciotti.

His father Sante was a distinguished Italian lawyer. The boy was given the name of the city’s illustrious patron, St. Francis, at baptism. Francis (who later look the religious name Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows) had a “sweet, good-humored, persevering, settled and generous temperament, and also possessed a sensible heart full of affection…He was well-spoken, proper, intelligent, loving and full of a surprising grace…” He was very tall in stature, had a good voice, was agile and well-formed.

In 1841 Sante moved the family to Spoleto where he was appointed magistrate. In that same year, the youngest Possenti child died at just six months old; Francis’ nine-year old sister, Adele, soon followed. Just days later, his heartbroken mother was also called to eternal life. Francis had lost his mother when he was just 4 years old.

In 1846, Francis’ brother, Paul, was killed in the Italian war with Austria. Another brother, Lawrence, later took his own life. Such events, however, did not rob Francis of his spirit and cheerfulness.

During his formative years, Francis attended the school of the Christian brothers and then the Jesuit college in Spoleto. Young Francis wished to join the Jesuits but was turned down, as he was not yet 17. Following the death of a sister to cholera, his resolve to enter religious life became even stronger.

At sixteen, he suffered a life-threatening illness. Praying for a cure, Francis promised to become a religious. With recovery, however, Francis quickly forgot his promise. But God’s call would not be denied, and Francis soon turned his heart to the Congregation of the Passionists.

The decisive step was taken while seeing the highly honored miraculous picture of our Lady in Spoleto borne about in solemn procession. As his eyes followed our Blessed Mother, Francis felt the fire of divine love rising in his heart and almost at once made the resolve to join the Passionists, a religious congregation dedicated to the veneration of and meditation on the passion of Christ (1856).

Sante Possenti was less than pleased with his teenage son’s decision. But the young man was not to be dissuaded. Immediately after completion of his schooling, he left for the Passionist novitiate in Morrovalle. In the novitiate, he cultivated a great love for Christ Crucified.

Francis received the Passionist habit on September 21, 1856, which that year was the Feast of the Sorrowful Mother. He was given the name: Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows. A year later he took his vows.

His monastic life preparing for the priesthood made Gabriel a secluded, non-public figure. His writings reflect his close relationship with God and His mother. Gabriel’s heroism lay in his obedient attitude. He conformed himself to his community in complete humility.

Little is known of his life – only that he was blessed with an excellent memory and other gifts that made him an outstanding student. He also had a great devotion to the Passion of Christ and the Sorrows of Mary.

PRAYER

O God, You taught blessed Gabriel diligently
to ponder the sorrows of Your most sweet Mother,
and exalted him to the glory of sanctity
and the working of miracles;
grant us, through his intercession and example,
so to mourn with Your Mother,
that we may be saved through her maternal care.
You Who are God,
living and reigning with God the Father
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever.

Amen.