St Gabriel de la dolorosa is known as the patron saint of Catholic youth and by others as the young saint of smiles. Saint Gabriel was a dancer who became a saint. His religious life was short, but he gained as much as if he had lived many years longer.
Biography. The life of Saint Gabriel of Sorrows
Saint Gabriel of Sorrows was born on 1 March 1838 in Assisi, Italy. His parents were Saints Possenti and Agnes Friscioti and he belonged to a family of 13 siblings; he was baptised on the day of his birth with the name “Francesco Possenti” and in the same cathedral as St Francis of Assisi and the Virgin Clare.
Francis belonged to an upper middle class family, his father was a merchant and ambassador to the Papal States. When he was four years old, his mother died and he was left in the care of his brothers and sisters and his father, who was a Catholic and took care to give him an excellent education. He made his First Communion at the age of seven, and his primary education was with the Brothers of Christian Doctrine, later he went to the College of the Jesuit Fathers, where he learned both from his studies and from God, strengthening his knowledge and his faith.
As a child he was generous and kind, but he had a strong character with fits of anger and temper which changed as he grew up. In his youth he was a vain boy, preoccupied with having fun and dressing in fashion; he was an excellent dancer and stood out among the boys of his age. Yet Francis always professed a pure and sincere faith and devotion.
When he finished high school and was about to begin his university studies, Francisco suffered a serious illness that was getting worse every day, so with his faith and devotion he promised God that if he cured him, he would enter religion. In time, the miracle happened, but he completely forgot his promise and continued his life of parties and fun without heeding this call to conversion.
A year later, Francis began to suffer from severe laryngitis, an illness that almost led to his death. Again he turned to God and made the same promise. The miracle happened again when, after praying, Francis placed a relic of a Jesuit saint on his chest and woke up the next day completely cured.
This time he applied to join the Jesuits and was accepted, but he did not want to lose the joyful life he had led up to that point. Besides, his father advised him to wait a while until he was sure that this was what he wanted for his life. He liked to read a lot, especially novels, but although he loved them, like St Ignatius of Loyola, he would feel a great sadness after reading them.
It was only years later, when cholera began to spread in Italy, that Francis, after the death of his sister Maria Luisa, his closest and dearest sister, began to think seriously about becoming a saint. One day, while taking part in a procession of the Virgin Mary, to whom he had always had a great devotion, Francis noticed that the image of the Virgin Mary was staring at him, something he had never felt before in his life. This was what finally convinced him to follow the path of religion.
It was then, in September 1856, that he received the habit and changed his name to Gabriel de la dolorosa; Gabriel, which means: he who carries the message of God, and dolorosa, because of his devotion to the Virgin Mary and in memory of her sufferings. From that moment on he found happiness in the path of religion, he was joyful and showed love for God and his brothers.
In 1858 he entered the convent of Isola del Gran Sasso, where he prepared for his studies and dedicated himself to preaching the Word of the Lord. Later he began his theological studies with the aim of becoming a priest, but he was unable to complete them because, after only five years of religious life, he began to show symptoms of tuberculosis, an incurable disease at the time, which prevented him from continuing his life. His illness worsened and rapidly consumed him, but it did not take away his joy. Gabriel prayed to the Virgin Mary for a peaceful and conscientious death.
A year later, on 27 February 1862, almost 24 years old, he died with a smile on his face, embracing the Crucifix of Jesus and the picture of Our Lady of Sorrows, to whom he was very devoted, in the Passionist convent of Isola del Gran Sasso, Italy, where a basilica was built in his honour.
Soon after his death, miracles began to appear through his intercession, and in 1891 the Father General of the Passionists nominated him as a model of holiness. He was beatified in 1908 and canonised a few years later in 1920, when the Pope declared him a saint, and in 1926 he was proclaimed the patron saint of young Catholics. In 1959 Pope John XXIII proclaimed him the patron saint of Abruzzo.
The Church and all his followers celebrate the 27th of February as the day of Saint Gabriel de la Dolorosa. It should be noted that he was always very cheerful and liked to help others, and despite his short life he managed to do the things he liked and in the last five years of his life he dedicated himself completely to religious life. His story is a real example of what life is like before and after loving God.
His illness prevented him from becoming a priest, but his prayers and devotion helped him to live close to God and to the Virgin Mary, being an example for all young people; and even after his death he remained alive in the faith of the people who were devoted to him and to whom he manifested his miracles.
Prayer to Saint Gabriel the Sorrowful
Today there are several prayers to San Gabriel de la Dolorosa, which are intended to ask for healings, for the needs and problems of the home, and for any other request that you wish to make, which must be made with great faith and devotion. They refer to Our Lady of Sorrows and express the immense charity and joy that Saint Gabriel de la Dolorosa always represented. The prayer of healing is the most commonly used, as this is the way in which this saint manifested his miracles the most.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nJ1P8-7fHY
“O glorious Saint Gabriel the Sorrowful, who became a saint through your immense faith and good heart, we come to you to manifest our petitions (we mention what we wish to ask). We ask you to intercede for us with God and the Blessed Virgin Mary. We trust in your infinite mercy, hoping that you will fill our families and all those who need you with your protection, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen”.
This prayer is addressed to Saint Gabriel the Sorrowful, to ask for anything, be it health, money or any other favour you wish; it also asks him to intervene with God and the Blessed Virgin Mary to help you in whatever you are asking for.
“St. Gabriel the Sorrowful, because you are called the patron saint of young people, we ask you to help all those who have gone astray, we ask you to intercede for all those young people who have not found God. Guide them so that, like you, they may live for others, filled with faith and devotion. Do not let them lose themselves in worldly pleasures. Give them your example so that they may follow it here on earth and their souls may reach eternity. Amen.
In this prayer we pray especially for young people, for those who have gone astray, who are being led astray by bad influences and who are drifting further and further away from God. Young people are the future of the world, so it is important to help them find and fight for their vocation without falling into temptation. It is recommended to pray the Our Father after praying to St Gabriel of Sorrows.
It is not necessary to pray with the established prayers, each person can create their own prayers, what is really important is to pray with faith and devotion, and above all to always know how to give thanks for everything that both Saint Gabriel and the Sorrowful Virgin Mary grant, without forgetting to fulfil the promises that have been made.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7jR_cX5Nmk
Prayer to ask for a miracle of healing
Saint Gabriel of Sorrows has manifested himself with various miracles, but above all with healings; the following prayer is addressed to him and to the Virgin of Sorrows to ask for health of body and soul.
“Most holy Gabriel de la Dolorosa, out of your infinite love for God and the Virgin of Sorrows, I ask you to intercede for us so that our petitions may be granted (we will mention what we are asking for), we come to you in the hope that you will listen to these petitions and accept them favourably. Grant us the healing of our body and soul, so that we may share in your infinite mercy and obtain eternal salvation, may your will be done, Amen.
It is recommended that this prayer be prayed in conjunction with the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be prayers characteristic of Catholics, as this is the best way to communicate with God, the Virgin and, in this case, St Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin. The most important thing is not to say the prayer, but to say it with honesty, hope and humility, trusting that what you are asking for will be granted.
Prayer for the problems and needs of the home
“Saint Gabriel of Sorrows, you who spread faith and love for God and the Virgin Mary, we pray for our home, that you may protect it from all evil, guide us in the face of difficulties and give us the necessary strength in times of crisis. Pray for us and for our family, that our unity, respect, love and daily bread may be preserved. Help us in this need (mention the need) so that we may live in healthy peace, accompanied by Jesus Christ and the Blessed Virgin. This is your will, Amen”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzcLe-IYr-w
Sentences of St Gabriel the Sorrowful
- What a joy it is to be within these holy walls (Saint Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin said this after entering the convent of the Passionists).
- Your wounds, O Jesus, are my merits (This was one of the favourite phrases of St Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin which he knew from the life of St Bernard).
- You will not be overcome by love for Mary.
- I will accept everything as coming from the hand of God for the good of my soul. (This phrase was used very often by St Gabriel of Sorrows, referring to the fact that everything he received in his life was commanded by God, therefore he would accept it).
- God can make a greater world, a more spacious heaven, but He cannot make anything greater than the Mother of God. (This phrase is also found in the Marian creed of St Gabriel the Sorrowful).
- If I had remained in this world, I would not have obtained the salvation of my soul. (Sentence of St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin Mary, referring to the life she led before taking the path of God).
- Blessed art thou, most holy Virgin Mary, who by thy infinite mercy has delivered me from the dangers of the world (This phrase was a thanksgiving to the Virgin Mary who led him to religious life).
- Virgin Mary, what shall I do now, please guide me (St. Gabriel de la Dolorosa used to say this when he needed help so that the Virgin would enlighten him to solve some problem).
- O Virgin Mary, my mother, come quickly (these were the words of the young Catholic saint on his deathbed).
Saint Gabriel of Sorrows was always sure that the Virgin Mary would lead him to heaven; his companions said he was “exaggerated” because of his great devotion to her; but it was this and his faith that led him to enter God’s world, to live with his soul in peace and to lead him to holiness.
Miracles of Saint Gabriel de la Dolorosa
The miracles of Saint Gabriel the Sorrowful began to manifest themselves shortly after his death. One of the most famous is that of Saint Gemma Galgani, a young Italian girl who showed her devotion and faith to God and to the Virgin Mary from a very young age; she learned about Saint Gabriel the Sorrowful through a book lent to her by a lady; at first it did not attract her attention, but when she finished reading it, she was impressed by the life of this Saint who appeared to her one night.
Saint Gemma Galgani began to suffer from a serious illness and during this time she kept in contact with Saint Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin, who constantly manifested himself and spoke to her, guiding and consoling her and granting her the miracle of healing.
After the beatification of San Gabriel de la Dolorosa, the old church of La Inmaculada was consecrated to him, restored in 1590 and enlarged in 1908 to become the church dedicated to San Gabriel de la Dolorosa. His remains were transferred to this church and placed in a chapel, under the altar, in a bronze urn with his image. This is the place where most of her most important miracles took place.
Lorella, get up and walk
This miracle happened in June 1975. Lorella Colangelo was a little girl from Montesilvano (Italy) who suffered from leukoencephalitis, an incurable disease which prevented her from using her legs; at the age of 10 she could hardly walk, she always stumbled.
One day, the girl was at Mass with her family, and while she was praying the Hail Mary, she saw an intense light coming from a boy wearing a black tunic and sandals; she immediately realised that it was Saint Gabriel of Sorrows, who said to her with a smile: “Lorella, come to me, you will sleep in my tomb and you will walk again” and disappeared. She told no one.
During the whole week the girl dreamt of Saint Gabriel, who always said the same words to her with a smile; but the fifth time she saw him sad, and then he said to her: “Lorella, come, come, you’ll fall asleep on my grave and you’ll walk again”.
The last time she dreamed, Saint Gabriel had a sad face and said to her: “Lorella, come before time runs out”. The girl told her father and he immediately believed her. The next day they went to the Sanctuary of Saint Gabriel, her mother asked the friar if the girl could lie on the saint’s tomb, and he agreed.
Lorella immediately fell asleep and saw a great light and Saint Gabriel smiling at her: “She opened her eyes and was confused, she thought she had to go to school. She got up as if nothing had happened and walked over a small fence. Her father worriedly said to her, “Watch out you fall”, and she told him not to worry, that St Gabriel de la dolorosa had healed her.
Healed by the Belt of Saint Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin Mary
This is the testimony of a woman from Milan who says that she met Saint Gabriel the Sorrowful through her sister, with whom she went to his shrine in the old basilica in 2004. While praying at his tomb, she saw pictures of many devotees and wanted to put one up for her husband to protect him in his dangerous work as a carpenter.
Some time later, her husband began to feel unwell, he had a lump in his neck and after several tests, the diagnosis was blood cancer. The desperate woman, full of fear of losing her husband, turned to St Gabriel and pleaded with him. The oncologist put her husband through several cycles of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
One night, after praying a healing prayer to St Gabriel, she dreamt that he showed her husband reduced to a skeleton. But the saint put the belt of his habit around her husband’s body. After this dream, things began to go well, so much so that the oncologist congratulated him. The doctor declared that he was out of danger, although he would have to have annual check-ups.
There are many other miracles of Saint Gabriel de la Dolorosa which show that he is a very miraculous saint who intercedes before God and the Virgin Mary to help those who come to him in faith to ask for healing or any other request.
Your last chance, no more therapy
Adele Di Rocco di Bisenti suffered from a severe form of epilepsy. Her parents took her to several doctors, but she could not be cured. She needed frequent treatment or the seizures would return. In 1987, St Gabriel of Sorrows appeared to me several times and I always said: “Enough therapy!
After some hesitation, she finally told her parents about her dreams, but they, fearing a dangerous mistake, told her to continue the therapy under the doctor’s supervision. But the crisis continued and seemed to get worse.
On 31 July 1993, when he was 22 years old, they made a pilgrimage with a statue of St Gabriel to Bisenti, where he lived. On the night of 30 July, he dreamt again of St Gabriel, who said to him with outstretched hands: “This is your last chance, enough with the therapy! He woke up and said: “This time it’s enough!” He said nothing to anyone and started to stop the treatment. From then on he started to feel good, better and better.
The doctors, after scolding her, told her to continue the therapy, that there could be a period when the disease did not manifest itself and then it would continue with very serious consequences. But she no longer believed in doctors, not for lack of faith, but because she believed only in God. After she was healed, her life changed, she began to see the world and left her fears behind. She found love, got married and had four children, something she had not been able to do before. She named her first son Gabriel, after Saint Gabriel the Sorrowful.
Sanctuary of San Gabriel de la Dolorosa
It is located in the town of Isola del Gran Sasso, in Italy, the place where Saint Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin died. This Sanctuary was built in honour of the young Passionist student, known as the patron saint of Italian Catholic youth, a dancer who became a saint.
Construction began in 1970, after St. Gabriel the Sorrowful had become famous throughout Italy for his impressive and numerous miracles. The Sanctuary was built so that people could come to pray, reconcile and venerate St Gabriel, God and the Virgin Mary, as the old chapel was too small for the large number of people who attended.
On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the feast of St Gabriel the Sorrowful, which began on 26 February 2012, a great celebration was held to mark the beginning of the Jubilee Year that the Apostolic Penitentiary of the Vatican has conceived for 27 February 2012 to 22 September 2013. Throughout this period, various activities were held with the participation of Bishops, Monsignors and Cardinals, as well as thousands of pilgrims and missionaries who attended the celebration to venerate St Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin, to pray, to keep their promises, etc. The celebration was characterised by a joyful celebration of the opening of the Jubilee Year which the Vatican Apostolic Penitentiary has conceived from 27 February 2012 to 22 September 2013.
It was a joyful celebration, like the life of the young Gabriel. It was planned that the celebration would culminate in the inauguration of the new Sanctuary of St Gabriel de la Dolorosa, but this was not possible as it had not yet been completed.
La
The Sanctuary was officially inaugurated on 21 September 2014. Its construction took 44 years, under the design and supervision of the architect Eugenio Abruzzini, winner of the international competition organised for the construction of the Sanctuary. The result is a modern building with a capacity of about 10,000 people, a beautiful chapel of reconciliation, 30 confessionals, a chapel of blessings, a congress hall and a large portico that welcomes pilgrims at the entrance to the basilica.
The Sanctuary is visited by thousands of pilgrims every year, and even today many miracles continue to take place on the tomb of Saint Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin, and thousands of offerings are made to the Sanctuary by the faithful as a sign of gratitude.
