Saint Gabriel was known in the world as Francis Possenti, son of a professional and respected family. He grew up in a household where devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows was a hallmark of family life. Francis grew up, living the life of a typical teenager, he danced, he hunted, he went out with girls, but he still felt something was lacking. He turned to Jesus and His Sorrowful Mother and felt an inner calling from Our Lady to become a Passionist. This he did after many trials. As a Passionist he grew daily in love with Our Lord and Mary, the Virgin of Sorrows and soon came to the perfection of Christian virtue. He died from tuberculosis at the young age of 24.
Saint Gabriel is remarkable because he went so quickly and perfectly from a life of excess, devoted to the pleasures of this world, to becoming inextricably linked to the Passion of Our Lord. He shows us that we can all fall in love with Our Lord.
Thus this site seeks to spread devotion and knowledge of him so that all may learn from him and be guided to Jesus through him. So please spread the word about this site and help to make Gabriel known to those who can benefit from his wonderful example.
“By the shining example of St. Gabriel, you, dear young people, draw the courage to be faithful disciples of Christ”
John Paul II
Saint Gabriel! Pray for us!
Saint Gabriel Francis Possenti of Our Lady of Sorrows C.P.
Born: 1st March 1838
Religious Profession: 22nd September 1857
Died: 27th February 1862
Venerable: 14th May 1905
Beatified: 31st May 1908
Canonised: 13th May 1920
“Amongst the many who in our time have adorned the monastic life by their virtues, I hold that one of the first was Gabriel Possenti of the Congregation of St. Paul of the Cross. The innocence of his life, his patience and humility, his rare sanctity and precious death, the confidence with which the faithful are moved to invoke his help, his miracles, and the universal admiration in which he is held…..”
~ Franziskus von Paula Graf von Schönborn, Prince-Archbishop of Prague
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