Feast Day:
September 29
Also
known as
Azariah; Angel of Love; Angel of Joy
Profile
One of the 3 angels known by name, and one of the 7 that stand before God's
throne. Lead character in the deutero-canonical book of Tobit in
which he travelled with (and guarded) Tobiah, and cured a man's blindness;
hence his connection with travellers, young people, blindness, healing and
healers. The force behind the healing power of the sheep pool mentioned in
John 5:1-4.
Born
wasn't
Died
hasn't
Name
Meaning
God has healed or Healer of God
Patronage
apothecaries,
blind people,
doctors,
druggists,
eye disease,
eye problems,
guardian angels,
happy meetings,
love,
lovers,
nurses,
pharmacists,
physicians,
shepherdesses,
shepherds,
travellers,
young people
Prayer
Links
Prayer I to...
Prayer II
to...
Litany to...
Prayer for the
Protection of...
Prayer
to...
Representation
archangel; young man carrying a staff; young man carrying a fish; angel
walking with Tobias; angel holding a bottle or flask
Reading
You should be aware that the word "angel" denotes a function
rather than a nature. Those holy spirits of heaven have indeed always been
spirits. They can only be called angels when they deliver some message.
Moreover, those who deliver messages of lesser importance are called
angels; and those who proclaim messages of supreme importance are called
archangels.
Raphael
means...God's remedy, for when he touched Tobit's eyes in order to cure
him, he banished the darkness of his blindness. Thus, since he is to heal,
he is rightly caused God's remedy.
from
a homily on the gospel of Pope Saint Gregory the Great
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