St. Raphael The Archangel:
THE GREAT HELPER


St. Raphael is the patron of confession and penitents. Whoever sincerely honors St. Raphael will always have a good father confessor. St. Raphael is the Angel of consolation in earthly trails, a helper in need. His special duty is to assist the administration of the Sacrament of Penance. Married couples should also venerate him. The Archangel is one of the patrons of a happy marriage. The source is the book of Tobit (Tobias) [6:16-22]. St. Raphael tells Tobias who was afraid to take Sara as his wife:

By the Angel's advice young Tobias taketh hold on a fish that assaulteth him. Reserveth the heart, the gall, and the liver for medicines. They lodge at the house of Raguel, whose daughter Sara, Tobias is to marry; she had before been married to seven husbands, who were all slain by a devil.

[16] Then the Angel Raphael said to him: Hear me, and I will shew thee who they are, over whom the devil can prevail. [17] For they who in such manner receive matrimony, as to shut out God from themselves, and from their mind, and to give themselves to their lust, as the horse and mule, which have not understanding, over them the devil hath power. [18] But thou when thou shalt take her, go into the chamber, and for three days keep thyself continent from her, and give thyself to nothing else but to prayers with her. [19] And on that night lay the liver of the fish on the fire, and the devil shall be driven away. [20] But the second night thou shalt be admitted into the society of the holy Patriarchs.

[21] And the third night thou shalt obtain a blessing that sound children may be born of you. [22] And when the third night is past, thou shalt take the virgin with the fear of the Lord, moved rather for love of children than for lust, that in the seed of Abraham thou mayst obtain a blessing in children.

 St. Raphael is often depicted in art as carrying a scepter, while St. Gabriel carries a lily and St. Michael a sword and shield. The scepter is his symbol because he rules over the devil's attempts to discourage people who are striving for sanctity by plaguing them with doubts about trials and tribulations. God often sends the holy great tribulations in order to perfect them more and draw them closer to Him. Satan uses is powers of persuasion as best he might to convince people that these troubles are anything but. Devotion to St. Raphael is a powerful protection against any incursion by the enemy in such matters.

The image of the married couple is titled, MARRIAGE, by Gary Melchers, painted circa early 20th century.