Novena to St. Raphael the Archangel

Raphael — whose name means "God heals" — is one of the seven archangels and appears by name only in the Book of Tobit, where, sent by God but disguised as a human traveling companion named Azarias, he guides the younger Tobias on a long journey, protects him, instructs him in the medicinal use of a fish's gall to cure his father Tobit's blindness, and arranges his marriage to Sarah, freeing her from a demon that had killed each of her previous bridegrooms. Only at the story's end does he reveal himself as 'one of the seven, who stand before the Lord' (Tobit 12:15, Douay-Rheims) before departing. From this single narrative come all three of his traditional patronages: of travelers, whom he escorted and protected; of healing, for restoring Tobit's sight; and of those seeking a spouse, for the marriage he arranged and defended. His feast, formerly kept separately, has since 1969 been observed together with Saints Michael and Gabriel on September 29.

The Book of Tobit, Douay-Rheims translation, public domain (chapters 3-12 recount Raphael's role in full). Note on the shared September 29 feast per the 1969 reform of the Roman Calendar (Mysterii Paschalis), consistent with this catalog's existing St. Michael entry.