Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael
29 September
Today,
September 29, the Church celebrates the Holy Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and
Raphael. In particular, our Order celebrates St. Raphael, remembering that this
year marks the 280th anniversary of Pope Benedict XIV's Brief Emanavit
of May 4, 1745, in which the Archangel was confirmed as the principal co-patron
of the entire Order.
St. Raphael,
a biblical figure known as the great angelic healer, appears in the Book of
Tobit as a guide, protector, and heavenly physician.
Some
biographies of St. John of God recount miraculous interventions by the
Archangel in the life of our Founder, aimed at offering assistance to the
suffering and the sick.
Devotion to
Saint Raphael the Archangel represents a spiritual framework of profound
significance, as it embodies the mission of healing, protecting, and giving
hope to those in need.
For the Order
of Saint John of God, this devotion is a source of inspiration to work with
compassion and competence in the field of healthcare, remembering that the care
of the body and spirit is a journey shared between heaven and earth.