Happy Feast of St. Raphael the Archangel!

This artwork is the sole property of Tracy Christianson, from www.portraitsofsaints.com.

I tend to think of St. Raphael as the angel of happy meetings, because he was the matchmaker for young Tobias and Sara his wife. My husband prayed every day to this great archangel for the wise choice of a marriage partner. But he is also the saint of healing...since he told young Tobias to catch and cook a certain fish, and put it on his blind father's eyes, healing them miraculously.

"For I am the angel Raphael, one of the seven, who stand before the Lord. And when they had heard these things, they were troubled, and being seized with fear they fell upon the ground on their face. And the angel said to them: Peace be to you, fear not. For when I was with you, I was there by the will of God: bless ye him, and sing praises to him.... It is time therefore that I return to him that sent me: but bless ye God, and publish all his wonderful works. And when he had said these things, he was taken from their sight, and they could see him no more. Then they lying prostrate for three hours upon their face, blessed God: and rising up, they told all his wonderful works."

~ Book of Tobias 12: 15-18, 20-22