Raphael 			October 24
Archangel
The name “Raphael” means “God heals”, and from early in the church’s history the archangel Raphael has been associated with the healing ministry of the church.
Angels are rarely mentioned by name in the Old Testament. It was as the whole concept of angelic powers developed during the period between the Old and New Testaments, largely under Parthian influence, that various angels came to have distinctive characters. Raphael plays a major part in the book of Tobit in the Apocrypha, as the angel who restores Tobit’s sight and binds an evil demon so that the marriage of Sarah’s and Tobit’s son Tobias can take place. Raphael is also mentioned in the non-canonical book of Enoch.
In John’s Gospel, some textual traditions of the healing at the pool of Beth-zatha (John 5:1-9) include a reference to an angel who came down and stirred the water (now usually regarded as later additions to the Gospel). The tradition grew up that the angel was Raphael.
For Liturgical Use
It was only in the period between the Old and New Testaments that angels came to be given distinctive characteristics. Raphael appears as a major character in the apocryphal book of Tobit. In that story, among other things, Raphael heals Tobit of his blindness. The name “Raphael” means “God heals”, and Raphael has come to have important associations with the church’s ministry of healing.
Sentence
You sent forth your word, O Lord, and healed them; and saved their life from the grave.	
				Psalm 107:20
Collects
Loving God, 
in you is the well-spring of life
and the source of all wholeness;
may we who honour Raphael as your angel of healing
be empowered 
to strengthen, to uphold, and to make whole,
in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Praise to you, God of health and wholeness,
for all who take the part
of Raphael your healing angel;
hasten the time
when the millions held in Satan’s bondage
may be rescued and relieved.
Psalms	103:1-6,20-22	147:1-7
Readings
Tobit 12:6,11-15		One of the seven holy angels
Romans 8:35-39		No separation from Christ’s love
John 5:1-9a		The healing at the pool
Post Communion Sentence
Jesus sent the twelve out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.	Luke 9:2