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Lonely hearts are being advised by the Catholic Church to consult an archangel to help them find love. The church is encouraging single people to look to heaven to find their soulmate in the run up to Valentine's Day tomorrow.
The Catholic Enquiry Office (CEO) in the UK is suggesting that, rather than enduring rounds of speed dating to find a partner, people could pray to Saint Raphael, the patron saint of "happy meetings". The saint, one of seven archangels, appears in the Book of Tobit, in the Old Testament part of the Catholic Bible.
The CEO claims that Saint Raphael, who comes to the aid of a woman called Sarah in the bible and sets her up with her spouse Tobias, has been a spiritual friend to generations of singles. "Many people have testified to the help they have received in finding a life partner through the prayerful help of the archangel," said Monsignor Keith Barltrop, CEO director.
"At this time of year, significant numbers are seeking someone special, or maybe dealing with recent heartbreak. Saint Raphael is there to help." He added: "If something is for our good and happiness, then God will answer our prayers as we ask."
Although certain that every prayer would be answered, Monsignor Barltrop admitted that the results might not always be what is expected. "You might be praying for a tall, dark and handsome person to come into your life, or a beautiful brunette, but God may have prepared someone quite different but wonderful for you," he explained.
"Prayerfully ask him, and find out for yourself."
The CES is offering tips from matchmaking experts on its website with information about St Raphael and details of a prayer campaign for singles starting tomorrow. The Telegraph
This impartial investigator wants to know where the Telegraph came up with the number "seven" for the number of archangels listed in the Old Testament: Michael, Gabriel; Raphael; ______; ______; ______; and ______.
Fill in the blanks and comment with footnotes and sources, please!
7 comments:
Ralph, Bubba, Al and Chachi!
Oh and the source that information is my over caffeinated brain!
Ok, just before I met my husband I prayed a novena to St. Raphael (who is also one of my patron saints) and we're very happily married now! Also, when I toured the Basilica of St Mary, over each door in a huge stained glass window of 4 archangels: Gabriel, Michael, Raphael and Uriel. I guessl we'll find out the other's names in Heaven!
From Wikipedia (again!):
In later Christian tradition, however, there are three archangels: Michael, Gabriel, usually Raphael, and sometimes Uriel is given as a fourth. Eastern Orthodox tradition mentions "Seven Archangels". Uriel is included, and the other three are most often cited as Selaphiel, Jegudiel, and Barachiel. (Source: http://www.holy-transfiguration.org/library_en/ang_heavhost.html)
Mitchell
As long as Mitchell went to the trouble, I will save the interested more trouble: Here is a summary of what is at Mitchell's link:
If Lucifer had not fallen, then the Church would probably have established a feast in his honor, as it did in honor of the holy Archangel Michael. But Lucifer did not wish to subordinate himself to God. He dreamed of becoming equal to Him and lured away part of the angels to follow him in his struggle against God. Thus the brightest angel became the blackest devil - Satan.
Against Satan’s army there arose the Archangel Michael, one of the highest angels who had remained faithful to the Creator. Going into battle at the head of the bright angels, the Archangel cried out: “Who else but God?” - thereby denouncing proud Satan and all the godless of the future.
The angels of God vanquished the dark forces of the first rebels, and Satan, together with the other demons, fell like lightning into the netherworld.
From that time the Archangel Michael became the head of the entire heavenly host. For his zeal in working for God he is honored by the Church even to this day.
However, the demonic forces continue their battle against the followers of Christ. God allows this, in order for us to be able to exhibit spiritual steadfastness and fealty to the Trinity.
We are surrounded by danger everywhere. But in this daily and hourly struggle we are provided by God with great defenders and helpers - the holy angels, headed by the seven highest archangels; their names are Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Salaphiel, Jegudiel, Barachiel.
We have already spoken of the Archangel Michael. Archangel Gabriel has been entrusted with the service of being messenger to mankind. He came with the Lord’s tidings of forthcoming miraculous events to the parents of St. John the Baptist, to the parents of the Holy Virgin Mary, and also to the Mother of God Herself and to the righteous Joseph. Archangel Gabriel is the messenger of God’s Providence, the attendant of miracles and divine Mysteries. When we are overcome with doubts, when it seems to us that we have been abandoned by everyone and there is no help from anywhere, let us pray to Archangel Gabriel, that by his prayers the Lord would reveal to us His most holy will and would set our life upon the course of salvation.
Archangel Raphael is a merciful healer, sent by God to comfort the sick and the sorrowing. From the Holy Scripture we know that Archangel Raphael expelled demons from a woman. And how many people there are nowadays who are possessed by demons…. Alas, both they and their relatives often turn for help to sorcerers who nowadays hide behind the pseudo-scientific name of “extrasensorics.” But will sorcerers, these servants of the devil, expel demons? Obviously not. The power to expel demons and heal those who are possessed by them belongs to the holy angels and particularly to Archangel Raphael. Let us ask him to intercede for us before the Lord, Giver of all good things.
The name of Archangel Uriel means the light or the fire of God. This archangel enlightens the minds and the hearts of the faithful with the light of divine truths and the fire of divine love. All those who embark upon the study of knowledge can and should pray to this archangel to enlighten their minds and hearts, in order to avoid a destructive chasm between knowledge and faith.
Archangel Salaphiel is the patron of prayer. He is even depicted so on icons: with eyes gazing downward, with hands crossed on his chest, with an air of humility and deep inner concentration. He is our primary teacher of prayer. Prayer is the most difficult thing to achieve, and one must be instructed in it. Unfortunately, some people assiduously study various worldly subjects, but disdain the study of the most important subject in the world - the Jesus prayer. Let us pray to Archangel Salaphiel for the Lord to grant us this gift of divine prayer.
Archangel Jegudiel is the patron, defender and helper of all those who toil. And we must all be such, for we have been commanded to eat our bread in the sweat of our faces. We toil not only physically, to earn our daily bread, but also spiritually, in order to perfect ourselves. Archangel Jegudiel is depicted on icons with a crown of victory in his hands. Such crowns will be earned by those of us who will endure to the very end, who will worthily bear the light yoke of Christ. We are faced with a complex task, so let us ask Archangel Jegudiel for help in our daily lives.
Archangel Barachiel is the angel of God’s blessings. While asking God to bless all our good efforts, let us also appeal to Archangel Barachiel for help. However, we must accept the Lord’s blessing not only for prosperity but also for our cross, i.e. the sorrows without which there is no salvation. And may Archangel Barachiel give us strength to carry our blessed crosses.
Wikipedia?!?
I'm going to go over there right now and change the entry to Ralph, Bubba, Al and Chachi. Ha-Ha!
The apocryphal book of St. Catherine of Alexandria clearly states that the other 4 are: Ralph, Bubba, Al and Chachi.
It's unfortunate that only one library in the world (in the So. Como neighborhood of St. Paul) owns this fine source.
Cathy:
Maybe you could make it into an e-book and sell it on e-Bay. I'm sure all the Bubbas and Chachis of the world would like a copy for themselves.
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