Litany in Honor of St. Raphael.
Waldtraud
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the father of heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Jesus, King of Angels, have mercy on us.
Mary, Queen of the Angels, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, the Archangel, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, whose name means "God has healed", pray for us.
Saint Raphael, preserved with the good Angels in God's kingdom, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, one of the seven spirits that stand before the Most High,
pray for us.
Saint Raphael, ministering to God in heaven, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, noble and mighty Messenger of God, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, devoted to the Holy Will of God, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, who offered to God the prayers of the father Tobit, pray for
us.
Saint Raphael, traveling-companion of the young Tobiah, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, who guarded your friends from danger, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, who fould a worthy wife for Tobiah, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, who delivered Sarah from the evil sririts, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, who healed the father Tobit of his blindness, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, guide and protector on our journy through life, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, strong helper in time of need, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, conqueror of evil, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, guide and counelor of your people. pray for us.
Saint Raphael, protector of pure souls, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, patron Angel of youth, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, Angel of joy, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, Angel of happy meetings, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, Angel of chaste courtship, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, Angel of those seeking a marriagepartner, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, Angel of a happy marriage, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, Angel of home life, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, Guardian of the Christian family, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, protector of travelers, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, patron of health, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, heavenly physician, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, helper of the blind, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, healer of the sick, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, patron of physicians, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, consoler of the afflicted, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, support of the dying, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, herald of blessings, pray for us.
Saint Raphael, defender of the church, pray for us.
Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world; spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world; graciously hear us, O
Lord.
Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world; have mercy on us.
Pray for us, O glorious Saint Raphael the Archangel,
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray:
God, you graciously gave the Archangel Raphael as a companion to Your
servant Tobiah on his journey. Grant us, Your servants, that we may ever
enjoy his protection and be strenghtened by his help. We ask this through
Christ our Lord. Amen.
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March 31st - Benjamin the Deacon, Martyr
Died on March 31, c. 421. Yezdigerd (Isdegerdes), the king of Persia, put an
end to the cruel persecution of Christians under his father Sapor (Shapur)
II, and there followed 12 years of peace. Bishop Abdas then burned down the
Pyraeum, or Temple of Fire, the chief object of worship of the Persians. The
king threatened to destroy all Christian churches unless Abdas rebuilt it.
The bishop refused, and the king put him to death and initiated a general
persecution of Christians, which continued for forty years and intensified
under his son Varanes. An account of the terrible cruelties was given by a
contemporary, Theodoret (Ecclesiastical History).
Benjamin, a Persian deacon, was beaten and imprisoned for a year for
preaching Christianity during the persecution. He was released at the
request of the Emperor of Constantinople, who promised he would stop
preaching to Varanes' courtiers. As soon as he was released, Benjamin again
began proclaiming the Gospel, was arrested and tortured after he said that
he would not be silent if again released.
At his trial, he asked the king what he would think of a subject who would
renounce his allegiance and join in a war against him. The king ordered
reeds thrust under his nails and into the most tender parts of his body and
then withdrawn. After this was repeated several times, a knotted stake was
inserted into his bowels to rend and tear him. He expired in terrible agony
(Attwater2, Barr, Benedictines, Davies, Delaney, White).
He is depicted as a deacon with reeds thrust under his nails; sometimes
impaled by knotted stake (Roeder).
Spiritual Bouquet: He who comes to Me shall not hunger, and he who believes
in Me shall never thirst. St. John 6:35
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Other Martyrs of the Faith
At Thecua in Palestine, St. Amos the Prophet. The priest Amasius repeatedly
flogged him, and the priest's son Ozias drove an iron spike through his
temples. Half dead, the prophet was carried back to his own land where he
died and was buried with his forefathers.
In Persia, St. Benjamin, deacon. As he would not cease to preach the Word of
God, he was tortured under King Yezdegerd by having sharp reeds forced under
his nails, and a thorny stake driven through his abdomen, thus completing
his martyrdom.
In Africa, the martyrs Theodulus, Anesius, Felix, Cornelia, and their
companions.
At Rome, St. Balbina, virgin, daughter of St. Quirinus the martyr. She was
baptized by Pope St. Alexander, and chose Christ as her Spouse in her
virginity. Having completed her trial in this world, she was buried near her
father on the Appian Way.