Attend Mass for St. Raphael
The feast of St. Raphael the Archangel is celebrated on October 24 in both the old and new calendars. Attend Mass to honor this great archangel, the healer and guide, who plays a key role in the Book of Tobit. To fully experience the beauty of the liturgy, you can explore and attend a Traditional Latin Mass near you (click here to find one).
Read about St. Raphael at NewAdvent.org
The name of this archangel (Raphael = “God has healed”) does not appear in the Hebrew Scriptures, and in the Septuagint only in the Book of Tobias. Here he first appears disguised in human form as the travelling companion of the younger Tobias, calling himself “Azarias the son of the great Ananias”. The story of the adventurous journey during which the protective influence of the angel is shown in many ways including the binding “in the desert of upper Egypt” of the demon who had previously slain seven husbands of Sara, daughter of Raguel, is picturesquely related in Tobit 5-11, to which the reader is referred. After the return and the healing of the blindness of the elder Tobias, Azarias makes himself known as “the angel Raphael, one of the seven, who stand before the Lord” (Tobit 12:15. Cf. Revelation 8:2). Of these seven “archangels” which appear in the angelology of post-Exilic Judaism, only three, Gabriel, Michael and Raphael, are mentioned in the canonical Scriptures. The others, according to the Book of Enoch (cf. xxi) are Uriel, Raguel, Sariel, and Jerahmeel, while from other apocryphal sources we get the variant names Izidkiel, Hanael, and Kepharel instead of the last three in the other list.
Regarding the functions attributed to Raphael we have little more than his declaration to Tobias (Tobit 12) that when the latter was occupied in his works of mercy and charity, he (Raphael) offered his prayer to the Lord, that he was sent by the Lord to heal him of his blindness and to deliver Sara, his son’s wife, from the devil. The Jewish category of the archangels is recognized in the New Testament (1 Thessalonians 4:15; Jude 9), but only Gabriel and Michael are mentioned by name. Many commentators, however, identify Raphael with the “angel of the Lord” mentioned in John 5. This conjecture is based both on the significance of the name and on the healing role attributed to Raphael in the Book of Tobias. The Church assigns the feast of St. Raphael to 24 October. The hymns of the Office recall the healing power of the archangel and his victory over the demon. The lessons of the first Nocturn and the Antiphons of the entire Office are taken from the Book of Tobias, and the lessons of the second and third Nocturns from the works of St. Augustine, viz. for the second Nocturn a sermon on Tobias (sermon I on the fifteenth Sunday), and for the third, a homily on the opening verse of John 5. The Epistle of the Mass is taken from the twelfth chapter of Tobias, and the Gospel from John 5:1-4, referring to the pool called Probatica, where the multitude of the infirm lay awaiting the moving of the water, for “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”. Thus the conjecture of the commentators referred to above is confirmed by the official Liturgy of the Church.
Read from Gueranger’s The Liturgical Year
For a deeper spiritual reflection, read Dom Prosper Gueranger’s entry for the feast of St. Raphael in The Liturgical Year. Gueranger delves into the biblical narrative of Raphael’s intercession and provides insights on the angel’s role in salvation history. This reading is a beautiful way to connect with the ancient liturgical practices that have shaped devotion to St. Raphael.
St. Raphael the Archangel
One of the seven who stand before the Lord.
Among the angelic spirits who stand before the throne of God, an important office has been assigned to Raphael. He is the healer, the guide, and the protector sent by God to guide souls and bring them safely through their earthly journey.
We read of his significant mission in the book of Tobias. Disguised as a human, he accompanied the young Tobias on a long journey, instructing him on what to do to avoid dangers, and eventually showing him how to cure his father’s blindness using the gall of a fish. Thus Raphael’s role as a healer, both physically and spiritually, became established in the Church’s understanding of his mission.
Besides this, the angel Raphael is considered to be a protector of travelers. The name Raphael means “God heals,” and he is known to bring healing both in the spiritual and physical sense. He is often invoked by those seeking protection during travel, and his intercession is especially requested for those suffering from illness or affliction.
Raphael is also identified with the unnamed angel of John’s Gospel, who stirred the waters of the pool of Bethsaida, providing healing to the first person who entered after the angel’s visit.
Let us honor this great archangel by invoking his protection in our daily lives, especially during our travels, and by asking for his healing powers in times of illness.
Prayer:
O Raphael, lead us to those who are awaiting our help, as once thou didst lead Tobias to the poor blind man who was to be restored to sight by thee. Guardian of our lives, direct our steps, whether our journey be one of soul or body. Preserve us from ill, heal us in body and soul, and grant that by thy holy guidance we may attain the joys of everlasting life. Amen.
Pray the Novena to St. Raphael
Say once a day for 9 days, especially beginning on October 15, and ending on October 23, the eve of the Feast of St. Raphael.
V. O God, come to my assistance;
R. O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost: as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
O Christ, Splendor of the Father, Life and Strength of the heart, in the presence of the Angels we celebrate Thee by our prayers and hymns, uniting our voices with their melodious concerts. We praise with reverence all the celestial Princes, but especially the Archangel St. Raphael, the faithful Companion by whose power the Devil was enchained.
O Christ, King full of goodness, by this guardian remove far from us all the wickedness of the enemy; purify our hearts and our bodies, and by Thy sole clemency, introduce us into Paradise. In harmonious concerts let us give thanks to the Father, glory to Jesus Christ and to the Comforter, God three in One, living before all ages. Amen.
Say one Hail Mary
St. Raphael, pray for us.
Christ, the glory of the Angel choirs!
Of man the Maker and Redeemer blest!
Grant us one day to reach those bright abodes,
And in Thy glory rest.
And Raphael, physician of the soul,
Let him descend from his pure halls of light,
To heal our sicknesses and guide for us
Each dubious course aright.
Thou, too, fair Virgin, Daughter of the skies!
Mother of light and Queen of Peace! Descend;
Bringing with thee the radiant court of Heaven
To aid us and defend.
This grace on us bestow, O Father blest,
And Thou, O Son by an eternal birth;
With Thee, from both proceeding, Holy Ghost,
Whose glory fills the earth. Amen.V. Pray for us, St. Raphael.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.Let us pray: O God, Who to Tobias, Thy servant, when on his journey, didst give blessed Raphael the Archangel, for companion; grant that we who are also Thy servants, may likewise be safeguarded by his watchfulness, and be made strong by his help. May he who we faithfully believe ever to stand before Thy Majesty, offer up our prayers to be blessed by Thee; through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.