Tobias and the Archangel Raphael
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The Archangel Raphael

Raphael is usually associated with healing and the name can be translated as "God heals". It is said that he was sent by God to protect the younger Tobias (sometimes "Tobiah") on his journey through the desert. During this journey Rapheal travelled in diguise. He later revealed himself as an archangel when he cured the blindness of the elder Tobias (sometimes "Tobit").

From this tale it is clear why the archangel Raphael is the patron saint of the blind and of travellers. He is often depicted carrying a staff which is his symbol. He is sometimes also attributed more general healing powers - it has been suggested that Raphael is the angel referred to in John 5:2-4 :

Now there is at Jerusalem a pond, called Probatica, which in Hebrew is named Bethsaida, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick, of blind, of lame, of withered; waiting for the moving of the water. And an angel of the Lord descended at certain times into the pond; and the water was moved. And he that went down first into the pond after the motion of the water, was made whole, of whatsoever infirmity he lay under.

In the Catholic calendar the feast day of St Raphael was traditionally October 24th, however more recently this has been combined with the feast days of the archangels Michael and Gabriel on September 29th.