24th October, St Raphael the Archangel

St Raphael the Archangel

St. Raphael is one of the seven spirits who always stand before the Lord (Ant. at the Magnificat) and offer Him the incense of their adoration and that of men (Offertory). "While thou didst pray with tears," he declared to Tobias, "and didst bury the dead, and didst leave thy dinner to conceal the dead in thine house by day, and by night didst bury them, I presented thy prayer unto the Lord. And because thou wast agreeable to the Lord it was necessary that temptation should try thee" (Second Lesson at Matins).

Tobias became blind. "The loss of his eye-sight," says St. Augustine, "was the occasion for the old man to receive an angelical physician" (Fourth Lesson).

St. Raphael, a name meaning "God heals", was sent by God to cure Tobias as He sent the angel who moved the water in the pool called Probatica (Gospel). He told the younger Tobias what remedy he was to use to restore his father's sight, accompanied and protected the young man on his journey, helped him to find a wife and warded off the wiles of the devil. "We praise with sentiments of veneration," the Church sings, "all the princes of heavenly court, but in a special manner the archangel Raphael, healer and faithful companion, who chained down the devil under his power. O Christ, King of all goodness, by giving us such a guardian, make it impossible for the enemy to do us harm " (Hymn).

" May the angel Raphael, physician of our salvation, help us from the heights of heaven, heal all diseases and guide our faltering steps towards the true life " (Hymn at Lauds).

Benedict XV extended his feast to the universal Church.

Benedicite Dominum, omnes Angeli ejus: potentes virtute, qui facitis verbum ejus, ad audiendam vocem sermonum ejus. * Benedic, anima mea, Domino: et omnia, quae intra me sunt, nomini sancto ejus.

Bless the Lord, all ye His angels: you that are mighty in strength, and execute His word, hearkening to the voice of all His orders. * Bless the Lord, O my soul; and let all that is within me bless His holy name.

(Psalm 102:20,1 from the Introit of Mass)

Deus, qui beátum Raphaélem Archángelum Tobíae fámulo tuo cómitem dedísti in via: concéde nobis fámulis tuis; ut ejúsdem semper protegámur custódia, et muniámur auxílio.

O God who to Tobias, Thy servant, when on his journey, didst give blessed Raphael the archangel, as a companion; grant to us Thy servants, that we may be ever protected by his custody and strengthened by his help.

(Collect)

"Raphael Angel, of our ills physician,

Send from thy glory, Lord, at our petition;

Healing and guiding be his blessed mission

Unto us mortals."

(Hymn from Vespers)

From the Catholic Encyclopaedia: www.newadvent.org/cathen/12640b.htm