Small monthly gifts, big Catholic mission. Become a sustaining member today. A look at St. Raphael the Archangel, the patron of happy meetings, as a powerful ally in finding the marriage partner. Includes a prayer for single Catholics. I had no idea weddings could be so depressing until I went to eight of them one summer. Sure, I was glad the marital miracle could happen for so many people just like me. But after that eighth wedding, I started wondering when it'd stop happening for people like me and actually happen for me.
After all, I had prayed, discerned, consulted my spiritual director. I was sure God was calling me to marriage. Why wasn't my future spouse listening? While I was moaning something along these lines to a co-worker, she said, "I have this really cool prayer to St.
Raphael — I'll give you a copy. I delicately inquired if she knew anyone who thought their marriage had anything to do with the St. Raphael prayer. Well, she thought she knew one couple. I wasn't convinced but, when I read the prayer, I knew she was right.
It's a great prayer. I don't say that because I instantly met and married the man of my dreams. I didn't. I say that because it was like a spiritual whack on the side of the head, letting me recapture something of God's vision for marriage.
This little-known prayer is derived from the Book of Tobit. Here's a quick summary of the relevant section: The Archangel Raphael is sent by God to heal Sarah, who, grieved by her trials and the insults of others, has begged God for death.
