The Lives of the Saints
1. THE HOLY ARCHANGEL GABRIEL
The Announcer of the Incarnation of the Son of God. He is one of the seven great angels that stand before the throne of God. He announced to Zacharias the birth of the Forerunner, and said of himself: "I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God" (Luke 1:19). His name, Gabriel, means Man-God. The Holy Fathers, speaking of the Annunciation, interpret that an archangel with such a name was sent to signify who and what He would be Who was to be born of the Most Pure One. He would be, therefore, Man-God, a mighty, powerful God. Some have learned that this same Gabriel announced to Joachim and Anna the birth of the Virgin Mary, and that he taught Moses in the desert how to write the Book of Genesis. The Holy Fathers think that Gabriel belongs to the first and highest rank of the heavenly powers — namely, the seraphic rank, since the seraphim stand nearest to God. He is thus one of the seven seraphim nearest to God. The names of these seven are: Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Selaphiel, Jegudiel, Barachiel. To this number some add Jeremiel as well. Each has his own particular ministry, and all are equal in honor. Why did God not send Michael? Because Michael's ministry is the crushing of the adversaries of God's faith. Gabriel's ministry is the annunciation of the salvation of mankind.
2. PRIEST-MARTYR IRENAEUS, BISHOP OF SIRMIUM
He is believed to have been a Slav, and to have been married and had children before his episcopate. He suffered for Christ in the time of Maximian. During his severe torments his relatives stood around him and with weeping begged him to spare himself and them — that is, to deny Christ. But this wondrous Priest-Martyr loved wounds for Christ more than all the goods of this world. At the same time there also suffered under the prefect Probus a gardener in Sirmium named Serenus, and Afr in Regio. Since Irenaeus absolutely refused to deny the faith, the prefect Probus ordered him to be cast from a bridge into the River Sava, where this shepherd of Christ's flock ended his life and departed among the citizens of heaven. He suffered honorably in the year 304.
3. VENERABLE MALCHUS
Malchus was a farmer from the vicinity of Antioch, and from his youth had directed his whole spirit toward God. Arabs captured him, and in captivity compelled him to take an Arab woman as his wife. But he led her to the faith of Christ and lived with her as brother with sister. They agreed and escaped from captivity. But the Arabs nearly caught them. They took refuge in a cave, in which they saw a lioness with her cubs and were frightened. But God preserved them. The lioness did not harm them, but slew an Arab who tried to enter the cave to seize the fugitives. Having arrived at his home, Malchus placed his wife in a women's monastery, and he himself went to a men's monastery. He lived for many years in ascetic labor and departed among the citizens of heaven, in the fourth century.
4. VENERABLE BASIL THE NEW
He first lived in a forest, without roof or hearth. When they seized him and asked who he was, he answered: "One of the living on earth." They suspected him of being some spy and greatly tormented him. At last he lived many years in freedom in Constantinople. He saw into all the secrets of men, foretold the future, and performed great miracles. His attendant was the elder Theodora, who when she died appeared to Gregory, Basil's disciple, and described to him the twenty toll-houses through which every soul must pass. Holy Basil reposed peacefully on March 25, 944, and departed to the wondrous heavenly dwellings. He was seen after his death in great glory in the heavens by a citizen of Constantinople.
“One of the living on earth.”
Hymn of Praise
THE HOLY ARCHANGEL GABRIEL
Seven golden-headed peaks of angels,
Seven archangels, the highest of spirits:
Michael is the first — a sword against adversaries,
With the sword he metes out to the God-fighters their due.
Gabriel, announcer of God's Incarnation
And wondrous keeper of the mystery of human salvation.
Raphael, like the sun, servant of the Trinity,
He is the physician of men's great infirmities.
Uriel is the radiance of the light of God,
He is the enlightener of the human soul.
Selaphiel — the intercessor, who presents prayers,
And brings the prayers of men before God.
Jegudiel, glorifier of God the All-powerful,
He encourages willing man toward glory.
Barachiel, bestower of heaven's blessing,
He gives from God what men have need of.
Reflection
Let not a miracle, when it occurs, confuse thee, but gladden thee. It is God who has extended His finger — whether to reward, whether to punish, whether to encourage His faithful, whether to lead sinners onto the path of salvation.
People often liken this world to a steam locomotive. When thou seest a locomotive, or other steam-powered conveyance, thou knowest that within it is hidden the engineer. And nothing surprises thee — does it? — if the engineer pokes his head out of the conveyance, or waves his hand, or extends a pole, or waves a handkerchief, or tosses you a letter, or makes some other sign. Thou knowest that this does not disrupt the running of the locomotive, nor damage a single pin within it. Why then do unbelievers say that God disrupts the running of these worldly wheels by His miracles? Because they are dull-witted. And believers rejoice at a sign from God like a child frightened before a locomotive who rejoices when a man — like himself — leans out of the conveyance. O how dear it is to us when from behind this mute universe that rumbles around us, someone like us leans out — and moreover someone who knows us and loves us! When a miracle occurs, know that the One like us is greeting us and saying: fear not, I am behind all of this! Saint Basil the New performed many miracles: he healed the sick by prayer, read the destinies of men as from an open book. Through His servant, as always, God showed His love and power among men — that the faithful might be more firmly established in the faith, and the unbelievers put to shame and converted to the faith.
Contemplation
Contemplate the Lord Jesus crucified on the Cross, namely:
1. How He uses the last breath of life and saves one of the robbers on the cross;
2. How He gives up His spirit to the Father into His hands: Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit.
“He uses the last breath of life and saves one of the robbers on the cross.”
Homily
on the near coming of the Lord
Behold, I come quickly (Rev. 22:7)
The faithless and soul-destroying will say: He promised two thousand years ago that He would come, yet He still does not come! Thus mock those who will wail in eternal torment. But we who are preparing for joy in His kingdom know that He will come in power and glory, as He promised.
We know that He has already come numberless times, and comes to this day. To every soul which He can approach from its impurity, He comes. Did He not come to John the Theologian, to whom He spoke those very words: behold, I come quickly? John beheld Him in power and glory, and felt His hand upon him when he was frightened and fell at His feet as dead. And He laid His right hand upon me. Did He not come to Saul, when he was breathing hatred against the Christians, and on the road to Damascus fell to the earth, seeing the Lord and hearing His voice: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me! And again — did He not come into the heart of the Apostle Paul, when the latter confesses: I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me! And did He not come to the countless martyrs and martyresses for His name, to encourage them, heal them, have mercy on them? Did He not appear to Anthony the Great, Theodore the General, Saint Charalampius, Saint Marina, Saint Silvester, and to so many, so many others?
But what are we saying? Did He not on the third day return from the kingdom of death and come to the apostles? And has He not so many times come to the aid of the Church, and raised it up as from the dead, whenever His enemies exulted thinking they had delivered His Church forever to death? Did He not manifest His power in the Church in the time of Nero, as in the time of Constantine; in the time of Julian as in the time of Justinian; in the time of Arab oppression as in the time of Turkish and Mongol oppression of Christians?
O my faithful brethren, be not deceived. He has come countless times, and comes to this day. To every soul which He can approach from its impurity, He comes. And yet we all await Him to come the last time in power and glory. And we know that that coming of His is also certain.
O Lord most gracious, before Thou comest, grant us to know Thy face and to be ashamed of our own face, darkened by sin! To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.
“He has already come numberless times, and comes to this day. To every soul which He can approach from its impurity, He comes.”