{"id":16754,"date":"2025-09-26T07:38:30","date_gmt":"2025-09-26T05:38:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/behold.mt\/?p=16754"},"modified":"2025-09-26T07:38:33","modified_gmt":"2025-09-26T05:38:33","slug":"what-is-the-story-of-archangel-raphael","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/behold.mt\/en\/what-is-the-story-of-archangel-raphael\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the story of Archangel Raphael?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On 29 September, the Church celebrates the feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. The word angel<\/em> comes from Greek and means messenger<\/em>. Therefore, archangel<\/em> means a higher-ranking messenger\u2014probably one sent with a more important message or entrusted with a greater mission. Although various Christian traditions and some ancient written sources mention other archangels\u2014generally adding up to seven in total\u2014the Church specifically celebrates only these three, because they are the only ones mentioned in the canonical books, that is, the books that form the Bible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are well aware of the significance of the messages delivered by the Archangel Gabriel. And we also know something of the battle fought by the Archangel Michael against the angels who rebelled against God, as well as his protection over God\u2019s chosen people\u2014both in the Old Covenant and the New. But perhaps we are less familiar with the story of Raphael the Archangel. Those of us who attended M.U.S.E.U.M. centres likely remember how, before setting off anywhere in the van, we would end the prayer by invoking a short prayer (ejaculation) to St Raphael, asking him to bring us safely to our destination. And rightly so!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The adventure of this archangel is recounted in the Book of Tobit, one of the so-called deuterocanonical books\u2014literally, \u201cthose that form a second canon.\u201d From the earliest centuries, Christian Tradition regarded these books as inspired by God and made use of them in liturgy and teaching, even though, from the second century onward, the Jews no longer included them in their sacred scriptures\u2014though they continued to be valued as valid sources of knowledge and moral teaching. It is for this reason that Protestant Christians also do not consider these books to be inspired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The narrative of the Book of Tobit revolves around the story of two Jewish families exiled among the nations, yet remaining faithful to the traditions of their ancestors, despite many obstacles. Raphael enters into the heart of these two families as a representative of God and assists them in the most delicate moments of their story. He appears in the form of a man who accompanies Tobias, whom his father Tobit sends to recover some money from a relative after the family falls into poverty due to Tobit\u2019s blindness. On their journey, they catch a fish from the river Tigris after it tries to attack Tobias\u2019 leg, and Raphael instructs him to open the fish and remove its gall, heart, and liver, as they will find good use for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During this journey, Raphael guides the young man to find his future wife, Sarah, and through the burning of the fish\u2019s heart and liver on their wedding night, she is freed from an evil spirit that had killed every man who married her and approached her. After retrieving his father\u2019s money, Tobias returns home with his wife, and, through the fish\u2019s gall, God heals Tobit\u2019s blindness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is at the end of these events that Tobias\u2019 companion on the journey reveals his true identity: \u201cI am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels who present the prayers of the saints and enter into the presence of the glory of the Holy One … Do not be afraid; you will be safe. But praise God for ever. I did not come as a favour on my part, but by the will of our God. Therefore praise him for ever\u201d (see Tob 12:15\u201318). As soon as he said this, Raphael ascended and disappeared from their sight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the journey of life, you probably won\u2019t encounter any fish trying to bite you. But you\u2019ll certainly come across two-legged sharks, and you\u2019ll experience no shortage of trouble from evil. So, it\u2019s not a bad idea to pray to Raphael the Archangel, asking him to accompany you along your way and to bring healing of heart to you and, through you, to others.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On 29 September, the Church celebrates the feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. The word angel<\/em> comes from Greek and means messenger<\/em>. Therefore, archangel<\/em> means a higher-ranking messenger\u2014probably one sent with a more important message or entrusted with a greater mission. Although various Christian traditions and some ancient written sources mention other archangels\u2014generally adding up to seven in total\u2014the Church specifically celebrates only these three, because they are the only ones mentioned in the canonical books, that is, the books that form the Bible… Read more »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":16752,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"kt_blocks_editor_width":""},"categories":[58],"tags":[],"rizors":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhat is the story of Archangel Raphael? - Behold<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/behold.mt\/en\/what-is-the-story-of-archangel-raphael\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What is the story of Archangel Raphael? - Behold\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"On 29 September, the Church celebrates the feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. The word angel comes from Greek and means messenger. Therefore, archangel means a higher-ranking messenger\u2014probably one sent with a more important message or entrusted with a greater mission. Although various Christian traditions and some ancient written sources mention other archangels\u2014generally adding up to seven in total\u2014the Church specifically celebrates only these three, because they are the only ones mentioned in the canonical books, that is, the books that form the Bible... 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