St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows

[ethany6]

Ok this is probably a very simple question with a simple answer, but I cannot figure it out. I recently was given a saint medal of St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows on it. Now on the medal, Gabriel appears to be looking at a skull next to him. I have done some research on him but have not found a reason for the skull to be on the medal with him. Anyone know why that is?? Have a great day and God bless!

 

[UbiCaritas]

This is a guess, but hopefully not a too-far-off-the-wall one.

St. Gabriel had several near-death experiences before entering the religious life. During or after each, he vowed to enter religious life if he survived, but then didn’t until the third or fourth such incident. In art, the skull is a traditional representation of death and mortality. My guess, then, is that it portrays him seeing his own mortality, and recognizing his vocation and call to holiness.

 

[Belshazzar]

At one time, all monasteries had a skull located in a prominent place in the cloister to remind the monks of the transitory nature of life, and that in this life they must “die to themselves.” I don’t know of any particular connection of them with St. Gabriel, but I’ve seen chaplets of Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows with small skulls in the place of beads.