St. Raphael The Archangel
Submitted By Doug Herman
St. Raphael is the patron saint of travelers, the blind, bodily and spiritual ills, happy meetings, nurses, physicians and medical workers.
St. Raphael is the Shining One, the One who heals; a source of spiritual and physical well being. St Raphael, Prince of the heavenly court is illustrious for his wisdom and grace; and intercessions for Divine mercy.
St. Raphael is one of the seven Archangels who stand before the throne of the Lord, and one of the only three mentioned by name in the Bible. Raphael's name means "God heals." This identity came about because of the biblical story that claims he "healed" the earth defiled by the sins of the fallen angels.
Disguised as a human in the Book of Tobit, Raphael declares to Tobit that he was sent by the Lord to heal his blindness and deliver Sarah as his son’s wife. It is then that his true healing powers are revealed and he makes himself known as "the angel Raphael, one of the seven, who stand before the Lord" Tobit 12:15.
Although only the archangels Gabriel and Michael are mentioned by name in the New Testament, the Gospel of John speaks of the pool at Bethesda, where many ill people rested, awaiting the moving of the water. "An angel of the Lord descended at certain times into the pond; and the water was moved. And he that went down first into the pond after the motion of the water was made whole of whatsoever infirmity he lay under" John 5:1-4. Because of the healing powers often linked to Raphael, the angel spoken of is generally associated with St. Raphael, the Archangel.
St Raphael spreads his wings around all those that suffer, bringing healing and peace to those in need. For immoral and unjust causes such as Euthanasia legislation, and tolerating abortion like it was just another form of birth control, St Raphael is the intercessor to represent our sincere desires for preservation of all life, sanctioned within the heavenly court.
“St Raphael the Archangel intercede for us and bring Divine mercy on the numerous lives lost to earthly disrespect for all of God’s creation, especially human life. Expose the value of all life to those that have not witnessed the Divine in everyone and everything.”
Amen
