This is a true story, and I hope it might help you believe in the existence of angels. I also hope it might help strengthen your faith in God as He is the Creator of angels. This story began in September 2009. It resurfaced again in October of 2011, and it has mysteriously played out years later in November of 2019. In some ways, this story is still playing out on different levels in my life today. May God’s will be done.
I have not been much on praying novena prayers, but for whatever reason, I prayed a novena prayer to the Archangel St. Raphael in October of 2011. I had printed the novena prayer out, and I had the image of St. Raphael on top of my chest of drawers. The chest of drawers is significant as it is the only belonging that I think has been with me my entire life. As far back as I can remember, the chest of drawers has been there in every chapter of my life, and it has been through many moves in my life.
The Archangel Raphael – September 2009
I have a memory about the Archangel Raphael when I was discerning for priesthood in seminary at St. Meinrad in Indiana. I looked to see if he was mentioned in the diary I kept while I was there. He was. Here is the excerpt:
Sep 29, 2009 9:57 PM – I went to Eucharistic adoration and mostly just stared. The sun was periodically beaming in on the blessed sacrament and it was like “The Transfiguration.” I have to say, it looked awesome as just one ray was lighting up the Eucharist, but really nowhere else in the chapel….it was like something out of a movie. I read in the breviary about the Archangels, Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, their roles with God and their opposition to Satan and the fallen angels. Everybody probably knows who Michael and Gabriel are, but for the record, Raphael cured Tobit’s blindness. St. Raphael is known as the angel of healing. I read an amazing write-up about Raphael on the net. I have to say, he is my favorite angel of the three.
The Archangel Raphael – October 2011
Back to October 2011…I completed praying the novena to St. Raphael. All was well, or so I thought. The following day, I made a return trip to Indiana to visit a friend of mine that lived in Jasper. We had attended St. Meinrad together. We were comrades there in the House of St. Matthew. His family had Notre Dame season football tickets. He invited me to attend the Notre Dame vs. USC rivalry game, and I accepted.
Before I could make the trip, I had to deal with some casualties on the home front. My truck was attacked. Someone had poured sugar in the gas tank. Fortunately for me, my insurance covered the expenses to get my vehicle repaired, and the mechanic was able to repair my truck. I was also fortunate that I had a rental car to make the drive to Indiana and back, but the incident was an awful experience to go through.
I got off to a late start on the road because of that, and I did not get up to Jasper until after 1:00 A.M. the next morning. My friend Michael had to wait up for me and give me directions on how to get to their house as I traveled the rural roads there. And to make matters worse, I went through a speed trap on the way there, and I got a ticket.
My vehicle was vandalized, and I got a ticket…on the same day.
Yes, you could say I was not pleased about that. When I got back home, I took the St. Raphael novena prayer off the chest of drawers, and I put it away. I certainly did not throw it away! Lest I incur the wrath of an archangel. But I thought St. Raphael was not happy with me, so I distanced myself from having any spiritual relationship with him. This decision, made in ignorance, has been a foolish mistake on my part.
Now that I know more about spiritual warfare, I realize what most likely happened was the result of diabolical retaliation. If you listen to spiritual warfare experts like Fr. Chad Ripperger, Kyle Clement, Jesse Romero, and Dan Schneider, they can explain how many of the principles of spiritual warfare work from over 2,000 years of Roman Catholic experience. Spiritual warfare is for real, and it is not to be taken lightly.
I do not want that to hinder anyone from praying novenas to archangels. If you do, I recommend going to confession regularly and living in a state of grace with God as best as you can. I, personally, would also go to confession before praying a novena prayer to any of the three archangels (St. Michael, St. Gabriel, and St. Raphael).
The Archangel Raphael – November 2019
Fast forward 8 years later…November 2019. I went to a Benedictine monastery in Louisiana, St. Joseph Abbey, for a fall retreat. I bought a statue of St. Michael the Archangel in their gift shop while I was there. I had learned from a Fr. Ripperger video every Catholic should have a statue of St. Michael the Archangel blessed and put in their home for spiritual protection. A senior monk at the Abbey blessed the statue of St. Michael in the Old Rite along with some medals of St. Benedict.
A Miracle from God
Well, when I got home from the trip I knew the presence of an archangel was going to go right back on top of the chest of drawers, as that is where I had planned to put the statue. I remember that while I was unpacking, and I was a little concerned about it.
When I got everything squared away from the trip, the last thing I did was address the St. Michael statue. I remember standing there holding the statue of St. Michael directly over the top of the chest of drawers. After a moment of hesitation, I put the blessed statue of St. Michael on top of the chest of drawers.
Immediately, I heard my cell phone go off in the other room. I went and looked at my phone. I had just received an email from my aunt at that very moment.
Guess what my aunt’s email was about?
A novena prayer to the Archangel Raphael
WHOAHH !!!!
Guess what the name of the monk is that blessed my St. Michael statue?
Father Raphael
WHOAHH!!!!
The Precise Timing of Angelic Activity
One of the things I have learned about experiences with angels is things will happen at the very precise moment they need to happen. To provide a testimonial to this, please watch the documentary of Fr. Aloysius Ellacuria, CMF, available on Formed.org. You can watch the promo video here (angels discussion begins at 3:45).
Who is the Archangel Raphael?
The word angel means “messenger.” In Hebrew, the word Raphael means “God heals.” Although he is not mentioned in the New Testament, St. Raphael plays a prominent role in the Book of Tobit in the Old Testament. St. Raphael is also mentioned in other ancient Jewish writings such as the Book of Enoch and the ancient Dead Sea Scrolls.
“I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who stand and serve before the Glory of the Lord.” Tobit 12:15
Remember how God revealed to Moses that His name is “I AM” (Ex 3:14)? Raphael affirms he is a member of the Divine hierarchy in heaven. Like God, it would seem Raphael indicates angels are not constrained by our concept of time (Tb 11:7). In the Book of Tobit, Raphael goes by the name, Azariah, which means, “YHWH has helped.”
Raphael is one of the angels venerated by name in the Church, with Michael and Gabriel, and he is revered especially as an angel of healing. Christian lore sometimes identifies him as the head of the guardian angels, the angel of knowledge and the angel of science. Raphael is also a prominent figure in the angelic traditions of Judaism; Jewish legend says that he was one of the three messengers who visited Abraham before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 18:2) Source: Catholic Bible Dictionary
The Old Testament Book of Tobit
Based on my own experience, I would highly encourage everyone to read the Old Testament book of Tobit. Not only is the book filled with Divine wisdom, but it also a real page turner. It almost reads like a novel. However, as with all of Sacred Scripture, the verses and passages are meant to be contemplated. The Old Testament book is ancient (at least second century B.C.), but many of the verses are full of symbolism, and the wisdom – inscribed by the Spirit of God – still applies in our lives today.
Here is an example of some of the maxims of wisdom found in the Book of Tobit:
READING Tobit 4:15a. 16a. 18a 19
Do to no one what you yourself dislike. Give to the hungry some of your bread, and to the naked some of your clothing. Seek counsel from every wise man. At all times bless the Lord God, and ask Him to make all your paths straight and to grant success to all your endeavors and plans. (From The Liturgy of the Hours Volume IV p.717)
Overview of the Archangel Raphael
St. Raphael was sent by God to aid a struggling family. The reason why this happened is because the family members recognized the severity of their afflictions and prayed to God for assistance. God responded, but He did so on His own Divine terms. God’s will unfolded through the assistance of an angel. The family was not even aware an angel (St. Raphael) was involved until the entire conflict was resolved (Tb 12:11).
Here is a listing of many of the benefits the family received from St. Raphael:
- Raphael serves as a messenger from God in heaven.
- Raphael was also sent by God to test certain family members.
- Raphael journeys with Tobias to serve as a guide and protect him.
- Raphael instructs Tobias: in prayer, in medicine, in spiritual warfare, in giving alms, in praise to God and proclaiming His goodness to others.
- Raphael serves a mediator of prayer: He both instructs what God’s will is to the family, and he carries the families prayers up to the throne room of God.
- Raphael helps deliver the family from the diabolic that dwelled in their home.
- Raphael helps heal the family of physical infirmities and mental anguish.
- Raphael, revealed his angelic identity before Tobit and Tobias.
Here are two key passages to consider from the Catechism of the Council of Trent (CCT) about God’s angels and how they help us here on earth.
How We are Helped by the Angels.
And the immense advantage springing from the special care and providence of God with regard to men, the execution of which is entrusted to Angels, who by nature hold an intermediate place between God and man, will be clear from a multitude of examples with which Sacred Scripture supplies us in abundance, and which show that in God’s goodness it has often happened that Angels have wrought wondrous works under the very eyes of men. This gives us to understand that many and equally important services, which do not fall under our sight, are wrought by our Angels, the guardians of our salvation, in our interest and for our advantage. CCT p.462
The Angel Raphael
The Angel Raphael, the divinely appointed companion and guide of Tobias, conducted him and brought him back safe and sound; saved him from being devoured by an enormous fish; made known to him the extremely useful properties possessed by the liver, gall and heart of the monster; expelled the demon; repressed and fettered his power and prevented him from injuring Tobias; taught the young man the true and legitimate notion and use of matrimony; and finally restored to the elder Tobias the use of his sight. CCT p.463
I hope you enjoyed this post and are inspired by the angels of God! All of us have a guardian angel. We would do well to pray to our guardian angels daily and ask them to light and guard, and to lead and guide us each day as we continue our pilgrim journey as disciples of Jesus Christ here on earth. May God’s peace be with us all.
So now bless the Lord on earth and give thanks to God…Tobit 12:20
