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A Homily by St. Bernard the Abbot
Homily 1 on Missus est, no. 2
 
Consider that this Angel was not one of lesser rank, even though such are, on one account or another, often sent on embassies to this earth. That he was an Angel of greater rank is indicated by his name which signifieth: Strength of God: and by the fact that he was sent, not by some Angel perhaps more excellent than he (as is usual), but from God himself. Therefore for this reason it is said: From God. Or, it might be for another reason, namely, lest it should be thought that God had discourteously revealed his counsel to any of the blessed spirits, except only the Archangel Gabriel, before he did so to the Virgin. For Gabriel alone was found so eminent among his compeers as to be held worthy both of such a name and message.

Neither do his name and his message disagree. For whom did it more behove to announce Christ, who is the Power of God, than him who is honoured by a like name? For what else is power than strength? Neither doth it appear to be unbecoming or unseemly that the Lord and his messenger should be known by a like title. Christ is called the power or strength of God in a very different sense from that in which this appellation is given to the Angel. In the Angel it is but a name. In the case of Christ, it is also an eternal attribute.

V. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R. Thanks be to God.

Magnificent picture, and the most edifying of meditations, Magdalena, as usual.


Just an inconsequential story:
We've observed a cat in our neighborhood for almost a year, thinking he's someone's pet. It finally dawned on us in the dead of a record cold winter that he was homeless.  We started to put out the leftover food that our cat didn't eat.  Not much, but food for fuel to help him stay warm.  A few weeks ago I noticed a pretty good gash on the side of his head.  Tangling with a racoon or possum no doubt, from the look of it.  
We asked Saint Francis and the BVM who stand guard in our yard to intercede with God for mercy on his cold half starving little body.  And somehow he survived the brutal winter.

A few days ago he was limping very badly. So, we trapped him and he's now being 'rehabilitated' for adoption.  He's as gentle as a lamb, despite all his hardship and lack of human interaction/affection.

We named him Gabriel.