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At least for a time, the Western church recalled the Archangel Raphael on this day, the 24th of October. In more recent years he\u2019s been mushed together with Michael and Gabriel and together are celebrated on the 29th of September.<\/p>\n
I went back into my blog archives and see while I am interested in angels and occasionally reference them, I\u2019ve devoted most of these reflections, a small handful to Michael. Makes some sense. He gets the most attention in the Bible, in Daniel<\/em> and especially in the Book of Revelations.<\/em><\/p>\n There are in fact references to seven (or sometimes four) archangels, although only three are named, the afore mentioned Michael, Gabriel, with his horn, and Raphael.<\/p>\n In case you\u2019ve forgotten. An archangel is a chief or principal angel. While angels are supernatural beings who often serve as mediators between the heavenly and earthly realms. It appears angels entered Judaism and later Christianity through the influence of Zoroastrianism.\u00a0Where they got it, I don\u2019t think we know with any certainty. Although, on first blush it does sort of look like they\u2019re a positive adaptation of local deities by monotheistic religions. A demotion, but better than being cast as demons.<\/p>\n In Buddhism<\/a> we have devas. They don\u2019t precisely map. But, they seem to touch similar visceral feelings. \u00a0Wherever\u00a0they come from, the idea of spiritual beings that muck about between heaven and earth, whispering warnings, making announcements, and occasionally directly intervening, certainly has its resonances.<\/p>\n And, I believe, speak to some realities. Within history or simply within our human ways of knowing is not the point.<\/p>\n Raphael means \u201cGod has healed.\u201d He isn\u2019t actually mentioned in the canonical scriptures, but features in important texts of the Western traditions, Tobit & 1 Enoch. In Jewish tradition he\u2019s one of the three mysterious visitors to Abraham at the Oak of Hamre. Christian tradition sometimes suggest he\u2019s the angel who stirred the waters of the Pool of Bethesda. In Islam it is he who is given the trumpet which will mark the end of days.<\/p>\n He has occasionally made visits, famously appearing in Cordova, Spain in the sixteenth century. Later he appeared to the Saint John of God, who upon his inspiration founded the Hospitallers<\/a>.<\/p>\n And so on this festival day I find myself thinking of what those mediators between heaven and earth might be for me.<\/p>\n