RENews

Archangel  Raphael

The great Archangel is the Angel of Marriage, of Healing, of Happy Meetings, of Joy and of Travel. St Raphael identifies himself as “one of the seven who stand before the Lord’ (Tobias 12:15).

He brings blessing for both body and soul, a fact demonstrated in the famous account of Tobias and Sara from the Old Testament-which shows how St. Raphael guided the young Tobias on a long journey and helped him to collect a debt for his father, to meet his future bride Sara, to begin a holy marriage, to drive away the devil from Sara, to return safely home and to cure his father’s blindness. In each case, St. Raphael brought both healing and joy. We too can safely trust this holy and powerful heavenly friend who is eager to help us. St. Raphael loves us and we can turn to him when seeking good health of both body and soul and guidance during difficult circumstances.

A reading from the book of Tobit 5:4;11:7-14,12:6,15

The Angel Raphael.

So Tobias went out to look for a man to go with him to Media, someone who was acquainted with the way. He went out and found the angel Raphael standing in front of him; but he did not perceive that he was an angel of God. Raphael said to Tobias, before he had approached his father, “I know that his eyes will be opened. Smear the gall of the fish on his eyes; the medicine will make the white films shrink and peel off from his eyes, and your father will regain his sight and see the light.” Then Anna ran up to her son and threw her arms around him, saying, “Now that I have seen you, my child, I am ready to die.” And she wept. Then Tobit got up and came stumbling out through the courtyard door. Tobias went up to him, with the gall of the fish in his hand, and holding him firmly, he blew into his eyes, saying, “Take courage, father.” With this he applied the medicine on his eyes, and it made them smart. Next, with both his hands he peeled off the white films from the corners of his eyes. Then Tobit saw his son and threw his arms around him, and he wept and said to him, “I see you, my son, the light of my eyes!” Then he said,

“Blessed be God,

and blessed be his great name,

and blessed be all his holy angels.

May his holy name be blessed

throughout all the ages.

Then Raphael called the two of them privately and said to them, “Bless God and acknowledge him in he good things he has done for you. Bless and sing praise to his name. With fitting honor declare to all people the deeds of God. Do not be slow to acknowledge him. I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who stand ready and enter before the glory of the Lord.”

The Word of the Lord

Thank you

A big thank you to all the children, parents and  families that participated in and shared in this special feast day Mass. A special thank you to Fr Simon Grainger, our Parish Priest for presiding over this important celebration.