THE ARCHANGEL RAPHAEL

Acrylic on archival quality masonite, 16 x 20", ornate gold frame

In The Book of Tobit, Raphael, the Archangel, (which means ‘Medicine of God’) disguises himself as a pleasant young looking man in order to assist the elderly Tobit and his son Tobias. He heals Tobit of his blindness using the gall from a ffish and accompanies Tobias on a long journey to retrieve his father’s inheritance.

 

This painting is about the moment when Raphael reveals his true identity. 

 

Raphael spoke, "When you and your daughter-in-law prayed, I brought a reminder of your prayer before the Holy One... When you did not hesitate to rise and leave your dinner in order to go and lay out the dead, your good deed was not hidden from me, but I was with you. So now God sent me to heal you and your daughter-in-law Sarah. 

I AM RAPHAEL, ONE OF THE SEVEN HOLY ANGELS WHO PRESENT THE PRAYERS OF THE SAINTS AND ENTER INTO THE PRESENCE OF THE GLORY OF THE HOLY ONE... DO NOT BE AFRAID, YOU WILL BE SAFE. BUT PRAISE GOD FOREVER FOR I DID NOT COME AS A FAVOUR ON MY PART BUT BY THE WILL OF OUR GOD... 

AND NOW GIVE THANKS TO GOD FOR I AM ASCENDING TO HIM WHO SENT ME."

 

* * *