LAKE JAMES

NORTH CAROLINA

Saint Raphael, Archangel

In the early centuries of the Christian era, although interest in angels appears to have been comparatively slight, (the focus being on the clarification of doctrines concerning the Holy Trinity and the Nature of Christ,) belief in their existence seems to have been taken for granted. It was in the Middle Ages that with increasing frequency theologians began to pay more attention to who and what angels are. The writings of St. Albert the Great and St. Bonaventure influenced Duns Scotus and St. Thomas Aquinas who developed what became the two primary schools of thought about angels. The major points of agreement are (1) the fact of the existence of angels, (2) that they are spiritual rather than physical beings, and (3) that they were created by God before the creation of the earth and humanity.

The term “archangel” comes from the Greek, means “chief angel,” and is found twice in the New Testament as well as in the Book of Tobit which says that there are seven Archangels who stand in the presence of God. The Christian Tradition identifies four by name: Gabriel, Michael, Raphael, and Uriel. “Raphael” is Hebrew meaning “God heals.” Hymn 282 in the Episcopal Hymnal calls Raphael the “health-bringer blessed who aids every sufferer” and prays that in God’s service, “he may wisely guide us, healing and blessing."  St. Raphael’s feast day is October 24^th.

Collect for Saint Raphael’s Day

O God, you gave blessed Raphael the Archangel to your servant Tobit as a comrade on his journey; grant to us your servants that we may always be protected by his watchfulness and defended by his help. Through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who, with the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever.

A. T. K. Z. +

To learn more about the Archangel Raphael from Catholic Online, click here.

This page last modified on Friday, April 11, 2008 09:39 PM