Gabriel holds a special place in the story of our redemption. It was Gabriel who visited Mary to announce that God had chosen her to be the mother of Jesus. In fact, the words Gabriel spoke that day form much of the beloved “Hail Mary” prayer. Just a few months prior, Gabriel had announced the birth of John the Baptist in a similar way. Because of all this, he is often seen with a trumpet – a symbol of his role as a herald of wonderful news.