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 We are so blessed in the Catholic faith to have so many channels of God’s grace that bring us consolation and healing. Paramount among these channels are the sacraments, most especially the Holy Eucharist, the source and summit of all grace.
In addition to the sacraments, Holy Mother Church also blesses us with sacramentals. Sacramentals are instituted for the sanctification of certain ministries of the Church, certain states of life, a great variety of circumstances in Christian life, and the use of many things helpful to man. Sacramentals do not confer the grace of the Holy Spirit in the way that the sacraments do, but by the Church's prayer, they prepare us to receive grace and dispose us to cooperate with it. (Catechism of the Catholic Church: 1668; 1670)
In opening ourselves to the Healing graces of Our Lord, sacramentals can play an important role. One such sacramental is the Healing Oil of St. Raphael. If you recall, in the book of Tobit the Archangel Raphael was sent in response to the prayers of two very distressed people, Tobit and Sarah. He healed the blindness of Tobit, protected Tobiah on his travels and delivered Sara from the evil demon Asmodeus who had killed her seven husbands on her wedding night, clearing the way for the marriage of Tobiah and Sarah. Read the book of Tobit when you have a chance. So many lessons there on how to pray and how God answers our prayers.
St. Raphael is invoked today as well, in a very big way by Fr. Joseph Whalen in his Holy Healing Ministry of St. Raphael. Fr. Whalen consecrates this holy oil with prayers of intercession to the Archangel Raphael for healing for those who use this oil with devotion and faith. Those with physical problems as well as those with emotional problems and addictions are finding healing and freedom through the healing oil of St. Raphael. The oil is available free of charge by request. MANY MIRACLES are still being wrought through the intercession of St. Raphael. Go to Fr. Whalen’s website to read more about this extraordinary ministry. Make sure to read the testimonials! St. Raphael, pray for us!
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