St. Raphael

St. Raphael, one of the seven archangels in Catholic tradition, is prominently featured in the Book of Tobit, a deuterocanonical text of the Old Testament. In the narrative, Raphael appears as a companion to Tobias, the son of Tobit, during a journey to Media. Disguised as a human named Azarias, Raphael guides Tobias safely, helps him recover a debt, and instructs him to use the heart, liver, and gall of a fish to heal his father’s blindness and free his future wife, Sarah, from a demon. Raphael’s role as a healer and protector is central to the story, and he reveals his true identity as an angel sent by God only at the end of the journey. The Book of Tobit, likely written between the 3rd and 2nd centuries BCE, reflects the Jewish tradition of angelic intercession and divine providence. Raphael’s name, meaning “God heals,” underscores his association with healing and guidance. While the exact time period of his appearance and the location of his veneration remain unknown, Raphael’s significance grew in Christian tradition, where he is venerated as a patron of travelers, the blind, and medical workers. His canonization, as with other angels, is not tied to a specific date but is rooted in his recognition as a saint through centuries of liturgical and devotional practice.