Prayer is the raising of mind and heart to God. Through prayer we make ourselves available to God so he can use us as channels of his grace. We also pray to seek forgiveness, as well as to praise, thank, and petition God for our needs and the needs of others. As children of God, we should feel free to ask him humbly for all legitimate needs and desires, without restriction.

Prayer to St. Raphael the Archangel for Healing, Guidance, and Safe Journeys

The name Raphael means "God has healed." This archangel does not appear in the Hebrew scriptures, only in the Septuagint, in the Book of Tobit, where he is mentioned as the traveling companion of Tobias. Disguised as “Azarias, the son of the great Ananias,” Raphael serves as a friend who knows the way. Of the seven "archangels" that appear in the angelology of post-Exilic Judaism, Gabriel, Michael, and Raphael are the only three mentioned in the canonical scriptures. The patron of healing, medical workers, and travel, Raphael is worth getting to know.

“Raphael of the glorious seven who stand before
the throne of Him who lives and reigns;
Angel of health, the Lord has filled thy hand with
balm from heaven to soothe and cure our pain.
Heal and console the victims of disease and guide our
steps when doubtful of our ways.”

Holy Raphael, I entreat thee to help me in all my needs
and in all the trials of this life. And since thou art the
“physician” of God, I pray thee to heal my soul of its many
infirmities, and my body of the ills that afflict it, if this
favor be for my greater good.
I plead for angelic purity that I may be fit to be the
living temple of the Holy Spirit.       Amen.

Vouchsafe, O Lord God, to direct thy Holy Archangel
Raphael to our help, and may he whom we believe to be
ever in attendance on thy majesty, present our poor prayers
to thee for thy blessing, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth
and reigneth world without end.        Amen.

And this Collect for a Safe Journey:

O Almighty God, who sent thy blessed Archangel Raphael unto thy servant Tobias to be a companion on his wayfaring: grant unto us, thy servants, that we may ever be protected by the guardianship of this thy same archangel, and defended by his help. Amen.

Vicarious Prayer

Some people are unable to pray for a variety of reasons. Infants are too young to be articulate. Others are unconscious, suffering from dementia, or otherwise too ill to pray. Still others are distracted by worldly concerns and forgetful. And so we offer prayers in their stead. For example:

O Almighty God, for all those who will offer up no prayers today and especially those who are unable to pray, please allow me/us to say, "Our Father, which/who art in heaven..."