Saint Raphael
Who is Saint Raphael the Archangel?
One of the seven archangels
Saint Raphael is one of the seven archangels of which the Bible speaks, four of which are not named in Sacred Scripture but in the apocryphal Gospels. Raphael is one of the three archangels whose name is mentioned and therefore recognized by the Catholic Church. Saint Michael is the defender, he defeats evil. Saint Gabriel is the messenger of God, he announces to the Virgin Mary that she is chosen to be the mother of Christ. Saint Raphael, the name which means in Hebrew "God heals" is the remedy of God. The archangel Raphael is part of the choir of the seraphim, he is the head of the guardian angels and the angel of providence watching over all humanity.
The Church celebrates the feast of the three archangels jointly on September 29. Saint Raphael is the patron saint of doctors, travelers, the blind, and matchmakers.
Story of Saint Raphael and Tobias
It is in the Book of Tobit in the Old Testament, that we meet the angel Raphael. Tobias was the son of Tobit, a Jew of the tribe of Naphtali deported to Nineveh. Following an accident, Tobit becomes blind and feels death approaching; his family, previously rich, sinks into misery. Tobit orders his son Tobias to go to Rhages, to collect his money from his uncle Gabael. Seeking a traveling companion, Tobias miraculously meets the Archangel Raphael disguised as a young man. During the trip, Raphael saves Tobias, who avoids getting swallowed by a huge fish while swimming in the Tigris. Following the archangel's advice, Tobias kills the fish and keeps the gall, heart and liver, which "make useful remedies."
On the way, Raphael encourages Tobias to marry Sarah, daughter of Raguel. The girl is possessed by the demon Asmodeus, who successively killed her seven husbands as they entered the bridal chamber. Sarah, who remained a virgin, appealed to the Lord to deliver her from this evil. The archangel gives Tobias the means to drive the demon away using the heart and liver of the fish, so the marriage takes place. Raphael himself goes to get the money and returns with Gabael to Tobias's wedding. Back home, Tobias applies the fish gall to the eyes of his father, who regains sight. The angel then reveals his true nature, “I am one of the seven angels who always stand ready to execute the glory of the Lord”. After advising Tobias and his father to always pray and do good, the archangel returns to heaven.
Testimonies of the intercession of Saint Raphael the Archangel
- The angel of the Bethesda pool
Theologians identify Raphael as the archangel who came to care for the sick at the pool in Bethesda, as the Gospel of John tells us. Chapter 5 reads as follows: “From time to time an angel of the Lord would come down and stir up the waters. The first one into the pool after each such disturbance would be cured of whatever disease they had.”
- Saint Raphael Monastery in Greece
This Orthodox monastery, dedicated to Saint Raphael, is built on the site of an apparition of the Archangel. The brothers list all the graces and healings received. One example is that of a girl named Stravoula who is diagnosed with juvenile glaucoma. Gradually losing sight, Stravoula and her family went to the monastery of Saint Raphael, where the monks gave them blessed oil, recommending that they apply it every day to her eyes by making the sign of the cross. The girl then saw her condition improve and shortly after, medical examinations confirmed the total absence of glaucoma.
Why pray Saint Raphael the Archangel?
Pray to Archangel Raphael for Marriage
Saint Raphael is prayed to in order to find your soul mate. In the Bible, the archangel is sent by God who heard the prayers of Sarah and Tobit. The archangel comes in person to give Sarah the husband she needs and Tobias the wife he deserves. Having followed the will of God in listening to the archangel, Tobias and Sarah receive all the blessings on their marriage. Raphael is the intercessor par excellence for those who entrust to the Lord their desire to meet their spouse and found with him a holy life.
Pray to Archangel Raphael for Healing
Saint Raphael is the divine healer, he knows the secrets of nature to find adequate remedies. He gives Tobias the means to heal the blindness of his father by having him recover the gall of a fish, and delivers Sarah from the demon Asmodeus by indicating how to use the liver and the heart of the same fish. From then on, the archangel is prayed to heal the diseases of the body as well as the soul. He is invoked by prayers of deliverance to cast out evil.
Prayers to Saint Raphael
There are many prayers to the Archangel Raphael: the litanies of Saint Raphael, the consecration to the Archangel Raphael. The nine-choir rosary of the angels is a powerful prayer to obtain the intercession of all the angels and archangels.
With Hozana, discover and pray to Saint Raphael
Do you have a prayer intention that is close to your heart, a request for healing, or are you looking for a soul mate? Hozana offers you several prayer communities to obtain the powerful intercession of the glorious Archangel Raphael.
- Raphael is the head of the guardian angels, with him, discover and pray nine days to your guardian angel.
