“Joy be to thee always…Be of good courage, thy cure from God is at hand” (Tobias 5:11-13)

St Raphael, one of the seven spirits who worship the Lord unceasingly before his throne greeted Tobias with these words.

In Hebrew, the name ‘Raphael’ means ‘God has healed’ and it has long been considered in the Church’s tradition that Raphael was also the ‘Angel of the Lord’ that descended to stir the water in the pool at Bethsaida (Gospel of John).

In the 1920’s a nun, Sr Mary Jerome found an old essay on the Angels in her Convent library, in this essay was a prayer to St Raphael which she took and distributed around. It was soon world famous and many healings and heavenly aids were attributed to it. Here’s the prayer in full:

“Dear St Raphel, Angel of happy meetings, lead us by the hand toward those we are waiting for and those who are waiting for us. May all our movements, all their movements, be guided by your light and transfigured by your joy.

Angel guide of Tobias, please lay my request at the foot of Him, on whose unveiled face you are privileged to gaze, (place your request here). Lonely and weary, deeply grieved by the separation and sorrows of earth, we feel the need of calling out to you and of pleading for the protection of your wings so that we may not be as strangers in the province of joy.

Remember the weak, you who are strong, whose home lies beyond the region of thunder, in a land that is always peaceful, always serene and bright with the resplendent glory of God. Amen”

The Book of Tobit in the Old Testament gives us the greatest detail and insight into the Archangel St Raphael who was ‘..sent to heal them’ that is, sent to heal both Sara (as her previous husbands kept dying on their wedding night) and Tobias, Tobit’s father who had been blinded;

“that an example might be given to posterity of his patience, as also of holy Job”

Tobias sent Tobit out on a journey to collect some money, on looking for a companion, Tobit found a ‘beautiful young man’ who was actually St Raphael in disguise.

St Raphael greeted the blind Tobias with the words:

“Joy be to thee always…Be of good courage, thy cure from God is at hand” (Tobias 5:11-13)

We need to hear those words these days from the Archangel of joy and we need to learn to be ‘of good courage’ when many things around us are turning dark.

St Raphael in the Book of Tobit was instrumental in the two powerful healings of Sara and Tobias. Everyone wished to thank St Raphael.

Instead, as any good angel would, St Raphael referred all the thanks and glory to God alone with these words:

 “Bless the God of Heaven, give glory to him in the sight of all that live, because he has shown his mercy to you…”

Turning to Tobias, St Raphel said:

 “When you prayed with tears…I offered your prayer to the Lord”

Do we believe that our angels, who behold God face to face, offer our prayers to the Lord?

Padre Pio did.

For now I leave you with my favorite prayer (for busy people) to this Angel of joy:

“Angel St Raphael, fill my life with happy meetings,

Let each meeting fulfill the loving decrees of God’s Holy Will.

St Raphael, my protector, please by my guide, my friend and director today”

Amen

“I am Gabriel who stands before God, I and am sent to speak to you and to bring you these good tidings” (Luke 1:19)

So spoke the Archangel Gabriel to announce to Zechariah that he and St Elizabeth were to become the parents of the much prayer for child, John the Baptist, the ‘voice in the wilderness’ to herald Christ’s coming on earth.

Zechariah doubted the veracity of Gabriel’s claims though because of his old age and St Elizabeth’s barreness and age. Because of this, he was struck dumb until the day John the Baptist was given his name.

Such a great message was overshadowed however, when the Archangel Gabriel was blessed above all the choirs of Angels in that he was given the role of announcing the actual Incarnation to Mary as the ambassador par excellent of God.

For a beautiful You Video on the Incarnation Click here

Mary, as we know, did not hesitate or doubt God’s word to her and one of the greatest of God’s mysteries in human history was fulfilled through the message of Gabriel to Mary as he greeted her with those immortal words:

“Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women” (Lk 1:28)

Mary was troubled at these words and St Gabriel reassured her:

“Fear not, Mary, for you have found grace with God”

These words of Gabriel are echoed in all Christians hearts through the centuries “Feat not” for the grace of God, the Divine life of the Son of God through the Incarnation is our strength.

Once again, at the Nativity of Christ, tradition states that the Archangel Gabriel was the Angel that appeared to the shepherds with ‘greetings of great joy’ and ‘peace to men of good will’.

An ancient prayer to St Gabriel requests that all our words will bring joy to their listeners as St Gabriel brought joy to Zechariah, Elizabeth, the shepherds and so many others.

The Archangel Gabriel is, traditionally thought of as having been the patron Archangel of the Holy Family, accompanying them on their journey through life and so too it fell to this powerful Archangel to comfort Christ in his agony in the Garden of Gethsemane.

The especial grace the Archangel Gabriel can gain for us is to imprint into our hearts the knowledge and the love of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

“O Glorious Archangel Gabriel extend in all hearts the Kingdom of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Amen”

St Gabriel is also a special Archangel for mothers in waiting and we should invoke St Gabriel for all mothers in particular in distress or those considering ending the life of their unborn child.

Having foretold the births of Jesus and John the Baptist no Archangel is better equipped to bless the unborn child in the womb. He can also aid the mother in praying for their child’s vocation and path in life to be according to God’s holy and divine will.

For a beautiful You Tube video on Mary’s ‘yes’ at the Incarnation click here