Since the archangels are important messengers of God it is fitting that their names should tell us something about God who sends them. Of these three archangels, Only Michael and Gabriel are mentioned in the New Testament, and so Raphael is not as well known. Raphael is a central character in the Book of Tobit in the Old Testament, where he appears in different roles: he is a messenger of God, he heals Tobias' father Tobit, he is the protector of both Tobias and his wife-to-be, Sarah, from danger and especially, in the case of Sarah, from the malice of the Devil. Thus he shows himself as companion, guide, protector and healer. His name means something like "God has healed" or "healing God", directly connecting him with God's healing power.

More than any angel, Jesus manifested the image and strength of God as our companion, guide, protector and healer. We see the full reality of God's healing power in his healing ministry, for he himself was wounded for us and so is the great "wounded healer".