(C.D. Stampley Enterprises, Charlotte, NC 2001). Used with permission.

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For postal workers

St. Gabriel the Archangel

Feast day: September 24

If the New Testament is any indication the archangel Gabriel, the patron saint of postal workers, is God’s favorite messenger. He carried messages from heaven to the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, and St. Zachary.

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In St. Luke’s gospel Gabriel is the angel of two annunciations. First he appears to the priest Zachary to tell him his wife will give birth to a son, John the Baptist. Then he visits the Blessed Virgin to announce that she has been chosen by God to be the Mother of the Savior. Gabriel’s greeting to the Virgin, “Hail Mary, full of the grace, the Lord is with thee,” is still recited daily by millions of the faithful.

In Hebrew Gabriel means “power of God, and Jewish tradition emphasizes the archangel’s power: Gabriel is said to be the angel who destroyed Sodom. Christian tradition, however, emphasizes Gabriel the messenger: he is believed to be the unnamed angel who appeared to St. Joseph, announced the birth of Christ to the shepherds, and will blow the trumpet on the last day to announce the end of the world.

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Prayer to the saints is a powerful thing.

Now, with Saints for Every Occasion, readers can quickly find help for any challenge they face – no matter how large or small. Author Thomas J. Craughwell profiles 101 patron saints from various continents, cultures and times – from saints who were contemporaries of Christ, to modern patrons like Padre Pio and Faustina Kowalska. Each saint lived heroically in difficult times and circumstances, providing powerful examples of how to turn almost any obstacle into a source of grace. Along with old favorites such as St. Anthony and St. Jude, Craughwell offers patrons for specifically modern concerns, including, for example, saints to watch over astronauts, internet users and environmental activists. Beautifully illustrated and entertainingly told, Saints for Every Occasion features 101 patron saints readers will seek out time and again.

“An excellent resource for home and classroom use.” – Publisher’s Weekly {/tabs}