Raphael, whose name means “God heals,” appears in the Book of Tobit, part of the Catholic Old Testament. Tobit, an Israelite exile in Nineveh, had gone blind. His son Tobias had to travel to Media to collect money left in trust. Raphael disguised himself as a man named Azarias and offered to guide Tobias on the journey.

Along the way Raphael told Tobias to catch a fish and keep its heart, liver and gall. At Ecbatana, Tobias married his relative Sarah, whose seven previous husbands had each died on the wedding night through the demon Asmodeus. With Raphael's guidance the demon was driven away. Back home, Tobias put the fish gall on his father's eyes, and Tobit could see again.

Only then did Raphael reveal himself: “I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who stand ready and enter before the glory of the Lord” (Tobit 12:15). The family fell down in fear, and he told them to give thanks to God. People turn to Raphael for journeys, healing and finding a spouse because, in this one book, he does all three.

Raphael is one of the three archangels named in the Catholic Bible. In the Book of Tobit he accompanies Tobias on his journey, drives away a demon, helps him marry Sarah, and heals Tobit's blindness. He is honored with Michael and Gabriel on September 29.