Tuesday 24 October 2017

St Raphaël



The feast day of Raphaël was included for the first time in the General Roman Calendar in 1921, for celebration on October 24th. With the 1969 revision of the General Roman Calendar in the wake of Vatican II, the feast was transferred to September 29th for celebration together with archangels Michael and Gabriel. Like all traditionalists, we remain with the October 24th feast day for this saint.

The name of the Archangel Raphaël appears in the Biblical Book of Tobit. The Book of Tobit is considered deuterocanonical by Catholics, Orthodox, and some Anglicans. Raphaël first appears disguised in human form as the travelling companion of Tobit's son, Tobiah, calling himself "Azarias the son of the great Ananias." During the course of the journey the archangel's protective influence is shown in many ways including the binding of a demon in the desert of upper Egypt. After returning and healing the blind Tobit, Azarias makes himself known as "the angel Raphaël, one of the seven, who stand before the Lord" Tobit 12: 15. He is thereafter venerated as Saint Raphaël the Archangel.

Regarding the healing powers attributed to Raphaël, there is his declaration to Tobit (Tobit, 12) that he was sent by the Lord to heal him of his blindness and to deliver Sarah, his future daughter-in-law, from the demon Asmodeus, who kills every man she marries on their wedding night before the marriage can be consummated. Due to his actions in the Book of Tobit and the Gospel of John, Saint Raphaël is accounted patron of travellers, the blind, happy meetings, nurses, physicians, medical workers, matchmakers, Christian marriage, and Catholic studies. As a particular enemy of the Devil, he was revered in Catholic Europe as a special protector of Catholic sailors.

The Archangel Raphaël is said to have appeared in Cordova, Spain, during the sixteenth century. In response to the city's appeal, Pope Innocent X allowed the local celebration of a feast in the Archangel's honour on May 7th, the date of the principal apparition. Saint John of God, founder of the Hospital order that bears his name, is also said to have received visitations from Saint Raphaël, who encouraged and instructed him. In tribute to this, many of the Brothers Hospitallers of Saint John of God's facilities are called “Raphaël Centres” to this day. The eighteenth century Neapolitan nun, Saint Maria Francesca of the Five Wounds is also said to have seen apparitions of Saint Raphaël.



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