Saint Raphael the Archangel

Who is he?

Saint Raphael is one of the three archangels the Bible mentions by name, together with Michael and Gabriel. Angels are spiritual creatures with no bodies. His story is told in the Book of Tobit in the Old Testament.

Life story

Tobit was a good and holy man who often helped the poor. One day, bird droppings fell into his eyes, and little by little he became completely blind (cf. Tb 2:10). At the same time, in a faraway city, a young woman named Sarah was also suffering because an evil spirit was tormenting her. Both of them prayed, and God heard them. He sent the angel Raphael to heal them both (cf. Tb 3:16-17).

Tobit remembered that he had left some money in faraway Media, so he sent his son Tobiah to bring it back (cf. Tb 4:20–5:3). Tobiah went to look for someone who knew the way, and he met Raphael, but he did not know that he was an angel of God (cf. Tb 5:4). The two set out together, with a little dog running along behind them (cf. Tb 6:1).

On the first evening, when Tobiah went down to the river to wash his feet, a big fish leaped up as if to bite his foot. The angel told him to grab the fish, cut it open and keep its gall, heart and liver to use as medicine (cf. Tb 6:2-5). Along the way, he led Tobiah to Sarah’s house. Tobiah married her, and through prayer and the angel’s help, she was set free from the evil spirit.

When they got home, Tobiah did what the angel had told him and rubbed the fish’s gall on his father’s eyes. Tobit could see again; he hugged his son and said that he could see him, and that his son was the light of his eyes (cf. Tb 11:13).

Only then did the angel reveal who he was: “I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who stand and serve before the Glory of the Lord” (Tb 12:15). He told the whole family to bless and praise God every day, and then he went back to the One who had sent him (cf. Tb 12:18-20).

Why is he a saint?

Saint Raphael always serves close to God and does exactly what God sends him to do. He helped quietly, without seeking glory for himself: he gave God the credit for every good thing. That is why, by tradition, the faithful ask him to watch over travelers, the sick and those who care for the sick.

A lesson for you

• Before you go to school or on a long trip, ask God and the angels to go with you.
• When someone in your family is sick, pray for them and help take care of them in small ways.
• When someone helps you, remember to thank them and to thank God.