This morning's Latin Mass honored St. Raphael. The name Raphael means "God has healed".

St. Raphael appears in the Bible in the book of Tobit. He heals Tobit of his blindness and helps Tobit's son, Tobiah, to find a wife. He then reveals his identity: "I am Raphael, one of the seven who stand before the throne of God"

St. Raphael is the patron saint of travelers, the blind, bodily ills, happy meetings, nurses, physicians and medical workers.

St. Michael, St. Gabriel, and St. Raphael are angel patrons of the Legion. September 29 is their feast day. They are invoked in the concluding prayers.

In many places the bible speaks of large numbers of angels. Mary is Queen of heaven and has authority over them. She can command angels to help us. Jesus says that each of us has a Guardian Angel who protects and helps us.

When we are working with someone to get back to the Church, Guardian Angels will assist us. Our Guardian Angel and theirs both know better than we, what is at stake.

Angel of God, my guardian dear,
To whom God's love commits me here,
Ever this day, be at my side,
To light and guard,
To rule and guide.