1. Raphael means “God heals.” Raphael heals physical, emotional, and spiritual problems, and is sometimes referred to as the “divine physician.” Raphael is believed to have healed Abraham after his circumcision. Raphael also healed Jacob when he dislocated his hip after fighting 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 of the fish. Tobias, who did not know that his traveling 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 white film on their eyes. The trip was a success. Tobias was paid the money he was owed; he found a bride, and Raphael taught him how to use the smoke from the heart and liver to exorcise the demon within his bride. Returning home, Rafael showed him how to use gall to restore his father’s sight. Only then did Raphael identify himself.

3. Following his journey with Tobias, Raphael became known as the protector of travelers. He has an excellent sense of humor and is a good traveling companion. That is why he is often depicted as a pilgrim, with a hat and walking stick and a gourd containing water or medicine.

4. Rafael is both teacher and healer. He taught Tobias how to heal his father. He teaches us how to heal ourselves 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 illness 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 infant Tobias to the Virgin Mary, who is holding the infant Jesus in her arms. Tobias holds 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 the patient would recover.