One of the three Archangels mentioned in Sacred Scripture, St Raphael is “one of the seven who stand before the Lord” (Tobit 12:15). His name means, “God heals”.
St. Raphael is best known for his appearance in the book of Tobit, in which, disguised as a human, he aids the young Tobiah on a journey to Media. On this journey, St Raphael liberates Sarah, Tobiah’s betrothed, from a demon who killed her seven previous husbands on their wedding night. Upon their return, he heals Tobiah’s father Tobit of his blindness.
Due to his role of healing in the Book of Tobit, St. Raphael is traditionally attributed as the Angel of the Lord in John Chapter 5, who moves the healing waters of the pool of Bethsaida. He is also the heavenly patron of the blind, against nightmares, of happy meetings, nurses, doctors, and travelers.
His feast falls on September 29th.
