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St. Gabriel Possenti
History
* St. Gabriel Possenti was born Francesco Possenti in
Assisi, Italy on March 1, 1838. He was the eleventh
child of thirteen children. St. Gabriel lived a life
like most other teenagers his age, hunting, horseback
riding, womanizing, and dancing.
* Twice in his youth, St. Gabriel Possenti became deathly
ill and prayed to be healed. He promised that if he
got well, he would enter religious life. God healed
St. Gabriel but the boy did not keep his promise.
* While attending a procession of the Mother of Sorrows,
Francesco heard Our Lady calling to him, asking that
he keep his promise. St. Gabriel Possenti joined the
Passionists after hearing Our Lady of Sorrows speak
to him.
* St. Gabriel Possenti died from tuberculosis on February
27, 1862. He was clutching the image of Our Lady of
Sorrows to his breast as he died.
St. Gabriel Possenti Revered
Today's Catholics honor St. Gabriel Possenti and his
short life in which he defended his faith, sacrificed
his worldly possessions, and became so dedicated to
Our Lady. Many Catholics wear a St. Gabriel Possenti
medal, reminding them of this patron of youth and praying
for his intercession and strength of faith. While reciting
a St. Gabriel Possenti prayer, wearing the St. Gabriel
Possenti pendant offers additional strength and courage
for living the faith.
Prayer to St. Gabriel Possenti
O angelic young Gabriel, who, with your ardent love
for Jesus
Crucified and your compassion for Our
Lady of Sorrows, were on earth a mirror of innocence
and an example of every virtue; we turn to you full
of confidence to implore your aid. Oh! How many evil
things and afflictions O how many dangers, assail our
young people from every side, seeking to make them lose
the faith. You, who lived always a life of faith, who
amongst the temptations of the world maintained purity
and virginity; turn your eyes to us, cast us a compassionate
and pitying glance! Help us to have the grace to persevere
in faith; we invoke your name; we cannot doubt the effactiousness
of your patronage! In full confidence of our hope in
you, we pray, O Sweet Saint, to obtain this particular
grace for the greater glory of God and for the good
of souls (mention your request). Finally, obtain for
us from Jesus Christ Crucified, through Mary, Our
Lady of Sorrows, resignation and peace so that we
might always live the Christian life, throughout all
the times of this present life, so that we might one
day be happy with you in the presence of our Heavenly
Father. Amen.
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