Our patron is St. Raphael the Archangel. His story is told in the book of Tobit, which is part of the Apochrypha, a collection of fifteen books or portions of books that are included in the Greek version of the Old Testament known as the Septuagint. The Old Latin translations also included these books, which were often quoted by the early Church Fathers. 

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Tobit is the story of a pious Jew named Tobit, living in the Assyrian capital of Nineveh during the eighth century B.C. (See 2 Kings 17:1-6). It was probably written in the second century B.C. and is based on folklore and oral traditions. Tobit was a man known for his charitable deeds to the living and the dead. He lost his possessions for defying the king (Sennacherib) and, later, became blind. He prays, in his frustration and sorrow, for God to deliver him. 

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A second plot line involves the young woman Sarah in Media, who is plagued by a demon-lover (Asmodeus), who kills every young man who marries her on the wedding night. Sarah also prays to God for deliverance. The two stories come together through Tobit’s son Tobias, who is sent to Media to collect money belonging to Tobit. 

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God answers the prayers of Tobit and Sarah by sending his angel Raphael (meaning Healer of God) in disguise to accompany Tobias to Media. Raphael reveals to Tobias the medicine to heal his father and to exorcise Sarah’s demon. Tobias is successful in his mission and marries Sarah as God had intended. 

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The symbols for Raphael are the walking stick as a reminder of the journey to Media; the fish, which Tobias caught at the Tigris River; and the jar or bag into which Tobias placed the heart, liver, and gall of the fish. Raphael told Tobias that burning the heart and liver before one possessed of a demon would drive out the evil spirit. The gall was to be used to anoint the white film on the eyes of a blind man, who would then be cured. 

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In Chapter 8 of Tobit, Tobias and Sarah pray a beautiful wedding prayer; later, in the same chapter, Sarah’s father prays a thanksgiving prayer that the demon had not killed his daughter’s new husband. In Chapter 12, Raphael reveals himself to Tobit and Tobias: “I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels who present the prayers of the saints and enter in the presence of the glory of the Holy One.” (vs.15) 

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In his revelation, Raphael reminds Tobit and Tobias that their works of mercy, as well as their sufferings, have been known to God and that they have never been alone for He was with them. They should praise God for ever and always give thanks to God. Chapter 13 is a long prayer of rejoicing by Tobit. 

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Of the seven angels Raphael mentions, four are listed in the Old Testament or Apochrypha: Gabriel in Daniel 9:21; Michael in Daniel 10:13; Uriel in 2 Esdras 4:1(in the Apocrypha); and Raphael in Tobit. Michael and Gabriel are named in the New Testament, while Raphael is believed to be the angel who stirred the waters of the pool in John’s gospel (Chapter 5). The story of Tobit and Raphael is entertaining and gives insight into Jewish life before the events of the New Testament.