St. Raphael the Archangel
Patron of: Travelers, Happy Meetings, To Meet A Life Partner, Blind, The Sciences. Scientific Discovery, Healing, Joy, Consolation, Eye Troubles, Oculists, Guidance.

Of all the seven archangels who sit at the throne of God, Raphael is known as the angel of everyday life. While Michael and Gabriel influence whole nations and predict coming world events and dramatic changes, Raphael accompanies us in our personal daily actions. We pray to him before we take a trip, whenever we are ill or for help in meeting a life partner. The name Raphael means “God heals” and it is said that this was the angel who controlled the healing waters of Probatica, a pond, in ancient times, where desperately ill people would go and wait for the angel to move the waters over them, effecting their healing.
Raphael’s iconography and characteristics are best illustrated by the story in the scriptural Book of Tobit. When Tobit was struck blind he became unable to accompany his son Tobias on a trip across the desert to collect money he had left in the town of Media. He prayed to the archangel for a solution and Raphael appeared to Tobias as a man named Azariah. At the same time, a woman name Sara was invoking the archangel for help in expelling a demon that had killed each one of her seven husbands on their wedding night. The archangel disguised as Azariah made a joyful and happy traveling companion, successfully guiding Tobias and his dog on the long journey. When Tobias and the angel reached the other side of the desert they saw Sara and the archangel insisted that she would make a perfect wife for Tobias. In order to defeat the demon that was plaguing her, he had Tobias catch a large fish, burn the innards and drive out the demon on his wedding night. This resulted in a long and happy marriage for both of them. When Raphael revealed his true identity to Tobias, he ordered him to take the gall from the fish back to his father and heal his eyes with this. In this way, he was able to answer the prayers of the disparate group that petitioned him, bringing a much happier outcome than any one of them would have imagined. He healed a blind man, guided Tobias on his journey, and influenced the happy meeting and joyous marriage between Tobias and Sara.

Raphael is also credited with helping mankind develop scientific knowledge. He helped Noah build his ark and instructed King Solomon on building the great temple of Jerusalem. Intimately involved in the smallest nuance of daily life, he not only delivers us on a safe journey, but also guides us on a more enlightened one.

Prayer

Glorious archangel Saint Raphael, great prince of the heavenly court, you are illustrious for your gifts of wisdom and grace. You are a guide of those who journey by land or sea or air, consoler of the afflicted, and refuge of sinners.

I beg you, assist me in all my needs and in all the sufferings of this life, as you once helped the young Tobias on his travels. Because you are the “medicine of God”, I humbly pray you to heal the many infirmities of my soul and the ills that afflict my body. I especially ask of you the favor (your intention here) and the great grace of purity to prepare me to be the temple of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.