Healing Prayer to St. Raphael the Archangel

God Heals

Raphael is one of only three angels named in Scripture, alongside Michael and Gabriel. He appears throughout the Book of Tobit, where he is sent by God to accompany the young Tobias on a long journey, traveling in the disguise of a human companion named Azariah. Along the way he protects Tobias from danger, guides him to a wife, and instructs him to keep the gall of a fish he catches — which Tobias later uses to heal his father Tobit's blindness. Raphael also delivers Sarah, Tobias's bride, from a demon that had plagued her. Only at the end of the story does he reveal that he is one of the seven angels who stand in the presence of God (Tobit 12:15).

His name, Raphael, means "God heals" — fitting for the role Scripture gives him as guide, protector, and instrument of healing. He is the patron of travelers, the blind, physicians, nurses, and happy meetings, and is invoked for healing of the body as well as of the soul. Since a 1969 calendar reform, his feast is celebrated together with Michael and Gabriel on September 29; before that, he had his own feast day on October 24.

Prayer to St. Raphael for Healing

Glorious Archangel Saint Raphael, great prince of the heavenly court, you are illustrious for your gifts of wisdom and grace. You are a guide of those who journey by land or sea or air, consoler of the afflicted, and refuge of sinners. I beg you, assist me in all my needs and in all the sufferings of this life, as once you helped the young Tobias on his travels.

Because you are the medicine of God, I humbly pray you to heal the many infirmities of my soul and the ills that afflict my body.

(Mention your request here.)

I especially ask of you the favor of purity, to prepare me to be the temple of the Holy Spirit.

Saint Raphael, angel of health, the Lord has filled your hand with balm from heaven to soothe or cure our pains. Heal or cure the victim of disease and guide our steps when doubtful of our ways. Amen.

Helper

1. Because Raphael's own story in Tobit involves a long journey with real dangers along the way, this prayer is also commonly prayed for safe travel, not only for physical healing.
2. "The medicine of God" is a title drawn directly from Raphael's role in Tobit, where the fish he tells Tobias to keep becomes the actual means of Tobit's healing — the prayer is asking Raphael to be that same kind of instrument again.
3. St. Raphael is a common patron to invoke for physicians, nurses, and anyone providing care to the sick, not only for the person who is ill.