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Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows (born Francesco Possenti 1 March 1838 – 27 February 1862) was an Italian Passionist clerical student. Born to a professional family, he gave up ambitions of a secular career to enter the Passionist congregation. In 1856 Possenti joined the Passionist monastery and planned to become a priest. When he received the habit of the Passionists he also received the name "Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows". He was devoted to prayer and penance, especially to the Sorrows of Mary. Possenti contracted tuberculosis and died before he could be ordained a priest. On his deathbed he ordered his spiritual writings to be burnt for he feared they would tempt him to pride. Only his letters survive, alongside his ‘Resolutions’ which map the spiritual progress he made in his few years as a Passionist. He died in the retreat at Isola del Gran Sasso at age 24 in the early hours of 27 February 1862 in the presence of the community, holding close an image of Our Lady of Sorrows and smiling peacefully. Those who were with Possenti when he died reported that at the moment of death, he sat up in bed and his face became radiant as he reached out to an otherwise unseen figure that was entering the room. It was the opinion Possenti had seen the Virgin Mary at the very moment of his death. St. Gabriel's intercession was responsible for numerous miraculous healings in subsequent years and his shrine in the Apennines at Isola del Gran Sasso became immensely popular. Pope Benedict XV canonized St. Gabriel in 1920 as a patron of youth and men studying for the priesthood. His feast day is celebrated on 27 February. A set of four postcards commemorate the 150th anniversary of the death of St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows (1838-1862). The postcards represent scenes of the miraculous healings attributed to St. Gabriel. The postal indicia, as well as the folder containing the postal cards depict his shrine.

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