Litany of St. Raphael
September 29, 1992
Brother John Raymond
One of the most beautiful stories in the Old Testament is about
the Archangel Raphael and Tobias. The story begins be recounting the
faithfulness of Tobias to the Commandments of God. He even risked
his life to do charitable deeds. When Sennacherib, the King of
Assyria, oppressed the Israelites and slew many of them Tobias
"daily went among all his kindred and comforted them and distributed
to everyone as he was able out of his goods." He fed the hungry,
gave out clothing and buried the dead. The King, who hated the
Israelites, upon hearing of the charity of Tobias, commanded him to
be slain and all his material good confiscated. Tobias escaped and
forty-five days later the King was slain by his own sons.
One day Tobias was accidentally blinded. His relatives and even
his own wife looked upon him as cursed by God. They ridiculed him
for his charitable deeds and faithfulness to God. Tobias "continued
immovable in the fear of God, giving thanks to God all the days of
his life." Yet so great was the misery of Tobias that he prayed, "O
Lord, do with me according to Your will, and command my spirit to be
received in peace, for it is better for me to die than to live."
Scripture tells us that the Lord heard his prayers and sent the
Archangel Raphael (which in Hebrew means "God heals") to heal them
both. Now Tobias, the father, thinking that he was going to die,
sent his son to Medes to collect some money he had loaned to a man
there. Tobias was worried about his son travelling alone and so he
told him to hire a faithful man to go with him. The young Tobias
found a "beautiful young man" who accompanied him on the journey. He
did not recognize him as an angel of God.
The Archangel Raphael even recovered the money for Tobias that
was owed to his father. Upon arriving home Raphael told the young
Tobias to anoint the eyes of his father with the gall of a fish.
Immediately his eyesight was restored.
Both father and son were overwhelmed at the help given them by
this holy man. They discussed what payment would be appropriate for
him. They decided to give him half of all the things they had
brought back. Then they went to Raphael and offered him this
payment. He in turn responded, "Bless the God of Heaven, give glory
to Him in the sight of all that live, because He has shown His mercy
to you. . . Prayer is good with fasting and alms more than to lay up
treasures of gold. For alms delivers from death and purges away
sins. It enables one to find mercy and life everlasting. But they
that commit sin and iniquity are enemies to their own soul.
When you prayed with tears and buried the dead. . . I offered
your prayer to the Lord. . . And now the Lord has sent me to heal
you. . . For I am the angel Raphael, one of the seven who stand
before the Lord."
On September 29 we honor the three Archangels Michael, Gabriel
and Raphael. On this day we could honor the Archangel Raphael by
reading the Old Testament Book of Tobias.
Litany of St. Raphael
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven,
Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, Queen of Angels, pray for us.
St. Raphael, pray for us.
St. Raphael, filled with the mercy of God, etc.
St. Raphael, perfect adorer of the Divine Word,
St. Raphael, terror of demons,
St. Raphael, exterminator of vices,
St. Raphael, health of the sick,
St. Raphael, our refuge in all our trials,
St. Raphael, guide of travelers,
St. Raphael, consoler of prisoners,
St. Raphael, joy of the sorrowful,
St. Raphael, filled with zeal for the salvation of souls,
St. Raphael, whose name means "God heals,"
St. Raphael, lover of chastity,
St. Raphael, scourge of demons,
St. Raphael, in pestilence, famine and war,
St. Raphael, angel of peace and prosperity,
St. Raphael, endowed with the grace of healing,
St. Raphael, sure guide in the paths of virtue and sanctification,
St. Raphael, help of all those who implore your assistance,
St. Raphael, who was the guide and consolation of Tobias on his
journey,
St. Raphael, whom the Scriptures praise: "Raphael, the holy angel of
the Lord, was sent to cure,"
St. Raphael, our advocate,
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
Pray for us, St. Raphael, to the Lord Our God,
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let Us Pray
Lord, Jesus Christ, by the prayer of the Archangel Raphael, grant
us the grace to avoid all sin and to persevere in every good work
until we reach our heavenly destination, You Who lives and reigns
world without end. Amen. (Reprinted from "A Prayerbook of Favorite
Litanies" with permission from Tan Books and Publishers, Inc.)