A Gift For Joy and Confidence
St. Gabriel's contagious happiness was often commented on by Father
Norbert. He wrote, "He had large dark eyes, so lively and expressive
...His whole countenance showed a perennial smile; it was attractive and
devout." (Burke, Happy was My Youth, p.199) A fellow student
remarked, "He possessed a priceless gift of undisturbed cheerfulness...
(Camillus, St. Gabriel, Passionist, p.147)
Gabriel would become popularly known as "the smiling saint". Fr.
Norbert adds a further pen-picture to describe Gabriel's charm: 'He was
naturally very talkative, in a friendly way to be sure, always
well-spoken and very much to the point, and always in such a pleasant
way that everybody liked to listen to him' and I ... he was able to
flavor his talk with a touch of salt, a certain piquancy, a delightful
touch of humor..." (Ibid, p. 198)
Gabriel's bliss was not ignorant. He understood that life was a gift
from God to relish lovingly, to live completely and without reserve, as
exemplified in the mystery of Jesus' Precious Blood. Jesus' blood was
the family bond uniting Gabriel to the One Body of the Lord, and making
all "blood brothers and sisters" in the new covenant. It was the seal
of Gabriel's relationship with the Lord. Like the Passionist bishop and
saint, Vincent Strambi, Gabriel had a profound appreciation for the
Blood of Christ; it was the reason for his confidence and the very
exhilaration he showed in living out his Passionist vocation. In 1986,
Pope John Paul II remarked that the “Most Precious Blood of our Lord has
always been the object of a special attention on the part of all the
saints: it is the school of sanctity, of justice, of love…” (Fr. Peter
Nobili, C.PP.S., Editor, The Precious Blood Family, 20)
Like his Savior, Gabriel was compelled to share his joy. When a certain
Brother Sylvester painfully struggled with chronic depression. He was
recommended by another novice to speak with Confrater Gabriel. Gabriel
listened with keen interest and concern. After talking with the brother
for a while, he offered the assurance of his prayers to the Blessed
Mother, Our Lady of Holy Hope, (a special title for Mary among the
Passionists.) Gabriel went immediately to Mary's altar: the Madonna’s
portrait above him showed Jesus in her arms and in Christ's hand was the
sign of hope--the Holy Cross. Gabriel prayed at length before this
image for his needy confrere. The next day, with the assurance received
by the inner light received in prayer, Gabriel told Sylvester, "Our Lady
of Holy Hope has obtained that favor for you!" There and then, Brother
Sylvester's melancholy was remarkably cured for the rest of his life.
(Burke, p.105). Gabriel's joyfulness was also a magnet for Christ,
attracting others to the blessedness promised to those who strive to
live the beatitudes. Often priests and seminarians from the diocese
made their retreats at the Passionist house. Various accounts show that
many were drawn to the dignity and contentment observed in Gabriel's
demeanor and actions. They wanted to get to know him better and discuss
spiritual issues. Inevitably, Norbert would have to contend with their
inquiries regarding the student or grant permission to speak with him.
Also, the local parish priest's nephew, a medical student by the name of
Francis Dionisi, often came to the monastery to pray. Norbert
introduced the good student to Gabriel. Francis and Gabriel took walks
together and discussed their spiritual lives. Sometimes they sat in the
flower garden that Gabriel successfully cultivated. A warm, mutual and
supportive friendship developed and lasted up until Gabriel's early
death. (Ibid, p.225)
These scenes are not images of a flowery holy card of St. Gabriel that
were mass-produced after his canonization, nor do they portray a remote
monk always praying alone in his cell. What we encounter through these
small vignettes is a living, very human man, full of God's love, whose
joy becomes a healing gift for others. Gabriel wrote these stunning
words of joyful confidence: "If God has gone so far as to give his only
Son for me, if Jesus Christ has gone so far to sacrifice himself for me
in such a hard and costly way, if he has poured out his Precious Blood
so liberally on my behalf, why should I fear that he will withhold the
rest from me? It is so much less than what he has already bestowed on
me. And have I not also a heavenly Mother who will look after all my
interests with all a mother's care?"
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