Prayer to St. Raphael the Archangel: Healing, Travel, and a Printable Prayer Card
The prayer to St. Raphael the Archangel turns to the angel whose name means “God heals”. In the Book of Tobit, Raphael walks beside young Tobias on a long and dangerous journey, protects him on the road, finds him a wife, and heals his father’s blindness. Travelers, the sick, and those who care for them have prayed to him ever since.
You will find the traditional prayer just below, a prayer for healing, prayers for travelers and caregivers, and a free prayer card to print and keep.
The Prayer to St. Raphael the Archangel (Full Text)
Glorious Archangel St. 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.
I especially ask of you the favor (name your intention here),
and the great grace of purity to prepare me to be the temple of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Free printable prayer card:
- Prayer card, PDF, US Letter
- Prayer card, PDF, A4
- Pocket prayer cards, 4 per sheet, PDF
- High resolution image, JPG
These files are free for personal use, for your parish, or for a hospital bedside.
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A Prayer to St. Raphael for Healing
Raphael is the angel Catholics turn to when illness enters a life, their own or that of someone they love. This short prayer can be said for yourself, or adapted for another person.
St. Raphael the Archangel, medicine of God, I come to you for healing. You drove every evil from the house of Tobit and restored sight to his eyes. Touch now what is wounded in me: heal my body, if it is God’s will, heal my heart where it is broken, and heal my soul of everything that keeps me far from Him. Stay beside me, as you stayed beside Tobias, until I am whole. Amen.
St. Raphael in the Book of Tobit
Raphael appears in a single book of the Bible, the Book of Tobit, and it is one of the most charming stories in all of Scripture. Disguised as a traveling companion, he guides young Tobias across the desert, protects him from danger, arranges his marriage to Sarah, and heals the blindness of his father Tobit. Only at the end does he reveal himself: “I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who stand ever ready to enter the presence of the glory of the Lord” (Tobit 12:15).
That is the whole spirit of devotion to Raphael: a discreet companion God sends for the road. His story and his place among the archangels are told in full in our article on Archangel Raphael, the angel of healing in the Bible.
When Do Catholics Pray to St. Raphael?
Before a journey, during an illness, while waiting for a diagnosis, or simply for someone whose suffering we can do little about. His feast is celebrated on September 29, together with St. Michael and St. Gabriel; before the calendar reform of 1969 it was kept on October 24, a date many older devotions still mention.
Prayers to St. Raphael by Intention
For Travelers and a Safe Journey
St. Raphael the Archangel, companion of Tobias, walk with us on this journey. Keep accidents and harm far from our road, guide every choice along the way, and bring us back home in peace and gratitude. Amen.
For Doctors, Nurses and Caregivers
St. Raphael the Archangel, medicine of God, strengthen the hands and hearts of all who care for the sick. Give them skill, patience and tenderness, and when their own strength runs low, care for them as they care for others. Amen.
For Those Hoping to Meet Their Future Husband or Wife
St. Raphael the Archangel, you led Tobias to Sarah and turned their meeting into a blessing. Guide me with the same quiet care toward the person God has in mind for me, and prepare us both, in patience and in faith, for a love that lasts. Amen.
St. Raphael in Sacred Art
Renaissance painters loved the image of the tall angel and the small boy walking side by side, a fish in the boy’s hand. Tobias and the Angel from Verrocchio’s workshop in Florence, where the young Leonardo may have had a hand, is the most famous; Filippino Lippi and Titian painted the pair as well. You will find more angels from the great masters in our collection of angel and archangel art prints.
More Archangel Prayers
The other archangels have their own pages of prayers, each with a free printable card: the prayer to St. Michael the Archangel for protection, the prayer to St. Gabriel the Archangel for God’s messages and expectant mothers, and the prayer to Archangel Uriel for wisdom and light. In September, many Catholics also pray the St. Michael novena before the feast of the archangels.
And to meet the archangels themselves, their story in Scripture and in sacred art, read our articles on Archangel Michael, fearless warrior and divine protector, Archangel Gabriel, the divine messenger and Archangel Uriel and his place in Catholic theology.
FAQ
What is St. Raphael the patron saint of?
Travelers, the sick, the blind, physicians and nurses, and happy meetings, which is why he is also invoked by those hoping to find a husband or wife. All of it flows from his role in the Book of Tobit.
Is Raphael mentioned in the Bible?
Yes, in the Book of Tobit, which Catholic and Orthodox Bibles include in the Old Testament. An old tradition also recognizes him in the angel who stirred the healing pool of Bethesda in John 5, though the Gospel does not name that angel.
Can the healing prayer be said for someone else?
Yes. Replace “me” with the name of the person you are praying for; interceding for the sick is one of the oldest Christian practices. Many people print the card and bring it to a hospital room.
Where can I buy a St. Raphael prayer poster?
The medieval illuminated design shown on this page is available as a large poster, printed on high quality matte paper, from our own shop, jesuschrist.pictures: see the St. Raphael the Archangel prayer poster. The shop also offers the prayers of the other archangels as posters, alongside canvas reproductions of the great angel paintings.
