St. Raphael: Angel-Man
by: Richard S. Clifton

Saturday Ramblins, Vol. 1, No. 24 (November 14, 1998)

Raphael, one of the few angels mentioned by name in the bible, gets his name from the Hebrew, rapha meaning "healer." His name means "God has healed." Probably due to the extensive and wonderful story in the Book of Tobit, Raphael is portrayed by such artists as Botticini, Lorrain, Ghirlandaio, Titain and Rembrandt as a sociable angel, often depicting him in the form of a man. He is seen chatting, even laughing, with men. Even though he is considered to be a Virtue, legend portrays him with the six wings of the Seraph.

Pascal Parente in his book, The Angels, asserts that the story of Tobias, father and son, "contains the grandest angelophany (visible manifestation of angels) of the whole Bible. In the story, appears to the two in the guise of a handsome young man named Azarias. It is a long, beautiful story and if you've not read the Book of Tobit, I urge you to do so.

At the end of their journey, Raphael reveals himself to the father and son saying, "I was sent to put you to the test. At the same time, however, God commissioned me to heal you and your daughter-in-law Sarah. I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who enter and serve before the Glory of the Lord" (Tobit 12:14-15).

Tobit is a wonderful presentation of an angel on earth because in it we may see how angels act when they take on human form. This sweet narrative reveals the angelic nature and how it manifests its power, wisdom and holiness through the incidents presented. Parente suggested that Raphael took human form and kept up his ruse for so long in order that he not frighten the father and son, Tobias. If they were fearful of him, he would not be able to carry out his divine mission.

Raphael the healer is in charge of all healing angels and cures attributed to his intercession continue through present times. Raphael, along with his cohorts, Michael and Gabriel, form a trio of the three known arch, or preeminent, angels who rule and direct God's legions of angels as they watch over their earthly charges and do battle with that other angel, Lucifer. The prize in this fight is the soul of man.

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