1. Raphael means “God heals.” Raphael heals physical, emotional, and spiritual problems, and is sometimes referred to as the “divine physician.” It is believed that Raphael healed Abraham after his circumcision. Raphael also healed Jacob when he dislocated his hip after wrestling with an angel.
2. Raphael is usually depicted holding a fish. This is the fish that Tobias caught while he was traveling to Media with Raphael. Rafael told him to cut out the heart, liver and gall from the fish. Tobías, who did not know that his travel companion was Rafael, questioned this strange request. The man told him that the smoke made from the heart and liver would exorcise evil spirits, and that the gall would restore sight to someone with a white film in their eyes. The trip was a success. Tobias was paid the money owed to him; he found a bride, and Raphael taught him how to use the smoke of the heart and liver to exorcise the demon within his bride. Returning home, Rafael showed him how to use the bile to restore his father’s sight. Only then did Raphael identify himself.
3. As a result of his trip with Tobías, Rafael became known as the protector of travelers. He has an excellent sense of humor and is a good travel companion. That is why he is often depicted as a pilgrim, with a hat and a staff and a gourd containing water or medicine.
4. Rafael is both a teacher and a healer. He taught Tobias how to heal his father. He teaches us how to heal from the self-inflicted wounds that we create through our actions. He also heals the wounds of all humanity and has been called the Guardian Angel of Humanity.
5. According to Jewish legend, Raphael helped Noah gain the knowledge he needed to build his ark. After the flood subsided, he gave Noah a medicine book.
6. Raphael helped King Solomon build his great temple. God gave Rafael a special ring to give to Rafael. This ring allowed Solomon to command thousands of demons to help finish the temple. This magical ring contained a pentagram, or five-sided star, in the seal. As a result of this, the pentagram became one of the first medical symbols.
7. It is likely that Raphael was the angel who entered the pool of Bethesda. The first person to enter the water at this famous healing center after being disturbed by the angel was instantly cured of whatever disease he had (John 5:2-4).
8. Raphael appears in John Milton’s epic poem, Paradise Lost. During the course of a conversation, Adam asked Raphael if angels have sex. Rafael blushed as he explained that angels enjoy spiritual sex.
9. Raphael (1483-1520), the famous Italian artist, was named after the archangel and painted twice. In one of them, Raphael presents the child Tobias to the Virgin Mary, who is holding the child Jesus in her arms. Tobias is holding a small fish.
10. In 1918, an English nurse named Joy Snell wrote a book called The Ministry of Angels. In it she described how she regularly saw Raphael at the head of seriously ill patients. Every time she saw him, she knew that the patient would recover.