SAN RAFAEL PARISH

St. Raphael - San Rafael in Spanish - ("God heals") is one of the seven Archangels named in the apocryphal book of Enoch who stand before the throne of God. Besides Raphael, Michael ("Who is like God") and Gabriel ("God is strong") are the only Archangels mentioned in the Christian Bible. Raphael was sent by God to help Tobit, Tobiah and Sarah, and his story can be found in the Book of Tobit of the Bible. Raphael instructed Tobit how to enter safely into marriage with Sarah, whose previous seven husbands had all died on their wedding night! Tobit was also blind, and it was Raphael who provided Tobit's son, Tobiah, with the knowledge of how to cure the blindness by using a medicine made of fish gall. This knowledge was given to Tobiah as he and Raphael journeyed together to Media and back. Raphael is also identified as the angel who moved the waters of the healing pool of Siloam in Jerusalem. Raphael is patron of the blind, of happy meetings, of nurses, physicians and travelers...

Primary location: San Diego United States