Roman Inc - Saint Raphael - Patron of Physicians, Travelers, and the Blind

St. Raphael Patron of Physicians, Travelers, and the Blind

Figurine comes nicely displayed in a clear fronted box with the the Story of the saint on the outside and a prayer card inside.

One of the seven archangels who stand before the Lord’s throne.  Raphael is one of the only three angels mentioned specifically by name in the Bible. (The others included in the Bible, Michael and Gabriel, are also archangels.) The name Raphael means “Healer of God”, according to the Book of Tobit from the Old Testament Apocrypha, God sent Raphael to Earth to help Tobit, his son Tobiah, and Sarah, Tobiah’s betrothed. Sarah was a widow whose seven bridegroom had each been killed by a demon on their wedding night.  Raphael guided Tobiah through difficulties and showed to him the safest way to enter into the marriage to Sarah. Raphael also cured Tobit’s blindness and allowed him to see the light of heaven.  In John 5:1-4, a healing pool is described where the blind, the lame, and the paralysed come to be cured in waters are stirred by Raphael’s hand.  Because Raphael was Tobiah’s travelling companion, he is a patron of travellers and immigrants.  His role in helping Tobiah in his marriage to Sarah positioned him as a heavenly advocate of love and of happy meetings. His restoration of Tobit’s sight leads many who are blind or suffering from diseases of the eye to turn to him.  As the “Healer of God” he is also the patron of physicians, nurses, and pharmacists as well as people with both physical and mental illnesses.

Feast Day:  September 29

Prayer to St Raphael the Archangel

Glorious Archangel St Raphael, great prince of the heavenly court, you are illustrious for your gifts of wisdom and grace.  You are a guide of those who journey by land or sea or air, consoler of the afflicted, and refuge of sinners.

I beg you, assist me in all my needs and in all the sufferings of this life, as once you helped the young Tobiah on his travels.  Because you are the “medicine of God” I humbly pray you to heal the many infirmities of my soul and the ills that afflict my body.  I especially ask of you the favor (petition) and the great grace of purity to prepare me to be the temple of the Holy Spirit.

Amen

Height: 8.8cm.

Material: Stone / Resin Mix