St. Raphael, the third of the chieftains of the
Heavenly Host, receives from God a power to heal
all sickness and infirmity, and repair the ravages
that are wrought by sin. His very name indicates
his office: The Healing of God. As God sometimes
allows Satan to spread disease among men, as in
the case of holy Job, so He employs St. Raphael to
avert sickness and restore health. Hence he is our
model in the privilege that God grants to all, of
helping to alleviate misery, and bind up and cure
the wounds of men. Do I heal the ills of those
around me? Do I not too often aggravate them?
It was St. Raphael who was sent to keep the
young Tobias safe from dangers of body and soul
during his journey to seek for a wife among his
kindred, and to furnish him with means to bring
to nought the attempt of the devil to destroy him;
to cure his aged father of his blindness, and to
leave peace and happiness behind him. God often
sends an Angel to keep us safe, though we too often
scarce recognize our need of it, and make little
account of our heavenly protector.
It is generally believed to have been St. Raphael
who was sent to impart to the Pool of Bethsaida
this power to heal him, who first bathed in it after
the Angel's visit (John V. 4). We little know how often God
employs angelic agency in our behalf. Men often
attribute to natural causes what is done by angelic
hands. Remember their agency, and thank God for
their aid.