St. Raphael Novena: Prayers For Singles Seeking Love & Marriage

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Is it time to say a St. Raphael novena? If you don't know this powerful angel very well, it may be time to make his acquaintance.

When you think of the Archangels, do you think of St. Michael with a sword fighting Satan? Or do you think of St. Gabriel telling Mary she is to be the mother of God? You might not think about the third archangel mentioned in scripture, St. Raphael the Archangel. However, he's a special one to get to know; he is the Patron Saint of happy meetings, marriage, and lovers! This is why so many singles turn to a St. Raphael prayer to find love!

While we celebrate the Feast of the Archangels on September 29th, we at CatholicMatch (which was first called St.Raphael.net), have always continued to honor the old feast day of St. Raphael, October 24th, because he doesn't share that day with anyone. That way, we can put the spotlight completely on St. Raphael!

St. Raphael has such an incredible story, and we've heard from many couples who attribute their meeting to his intercession.

Why do singles say prayers to St. Raphael for love and marriage?

What is a Novena prayer to St. Raphael said for? St. Raphael prayers for singles have been popular for years. The reason for this is because in the Book of Tobit, we hear the story of how St. Raphael provides assistance to a tormented Sarah and a suffering Tobias and ultimately leads them to each other. Sarah had given up on love after losing seven previous husbands; Tobias experienced a series of losses, including sudden blindness, leaving him in despair. At each of their lowest moments, God heard their prayers and sent St. Raphael to their aid. Soon, Sarah and Tobias' lives improve and they are joined together in a pure and holy marriage. For this reason, he is a great intercessor for those in need of healing and especially for those seeking a spouse. If you're a single in the Catholic Church, consider saying a prayer to St. Raphael for love.

St. Raphael Novena

It is popular amongst Catholic singles to say a novena to St. Raphael the Archangel for a future husband or wife. When we pray a Novena to a Saint, we are asking for the Saint to appeal to God on our behalf. We are not replacing our worship of God with prayers to a Saint. We know from scripture that God used St. Raphael to lead Tobias and Sarah to each other. Therefore, we can ask God to use St. Raphael to help us in the same way. With confidence in God's providence, we commit to nine days of prayer to St. Raphael with the intention of finding a holy spouse.

That said, remember that novenas are not transactional. We pray novenas to prepare our heart to graciously accept God’s will. We make our requests to God and trust that however He chooses to answer them is for the best. And, by saying a St. Raphael novena for love, you open your heart to do just that!

Day 1

As we begin the Novena to St. Raphael, the Patron Saint of Happy Meetings, pray that your search for a spouse will be joyful and fruitful.

(Note, the prayer below is the same one said each day, so while the intentions for each day will change--the prayer will not).

Glorious Saint Raphael, I feel the need of calling on you and of pleading for your help. In all confidence I open my heart to you to beg your guidance and assistance in the important task of planning my future. Obtain for me through your intercession the light of God’s grace so that I may decide wisely concerning the person who is to be my partner through life.

Angel of Happy Meetings, lead us by the hand to find each other. May all our movements be guided by your light and transfigured by your joy. As you led the young Tobias to Sarah and opened up for him a new way of happiness with her in holy marriage, lead me to such a one whom in your angelic wisdom you judge best suited to be united with me in marriage.

Saint Raphael, loving patron of those seeking a marriage partner, help me in this supreme decision of my life. Find for me as a help mate in life the person whose character may reflect some of the traits of Jesus and Mary.

May he (she) be upright, loyal, pure, sincere, and noble, so that with united efforts and with chaste and unselfish love we both may strive to perfect ourselves in soul and body, as well as the children it may please God to entrust to our care.

Saint Raphael, Angel of chaste courtship, bless our friendship and our love so that sin may have no part in it. May our mutual love bind us so closely that our future home may ever be most like the home of the Holy Family of Nazareth.

Offer your prayers to God for the both of us and obtain the blessing of God upon our marriage, as you were the herald of blessing for the marriage of Tobias and Sarah. Saint Raphael, be my friend for I shall always be yours. I desire ever to invoke you in my needs. To your special care I entrust the decision I am to make as to my future husband (wife). Direct me to the person with whom I can best cooperate in doing God’s Holy Will, with whom I can live in peace, love, and harmony in this life, and attain to eternal joy in the next. Amen.

Day 2

Today, the St. Raphael prayer for a spouse is said with a focus particularly on creating a family that imitates the Holy Family of Nazareth.

Day 3

Today, focus on how God used St. Raphael to help Tobias and Sarah overcome the difficulties in their lives, and trust in God’s care for the difficulties in your own life.

Day 4

Today, as you pray for a chaste partner, pray that you, too, may increase in this virtue.

Day 5

Today, with the St. Raphael prayer for a spouse, you pray and ask God how you may better imitate His love towards both your future spouse and the friends and family around you.

Day 6

Today, as you pray, think about how the goal of marriage is to bring your spouse to eternal life and reflect on the sacrifices that this entails.

Day 7

Today, as you pray to St. Raphael, the Patron Saint of Christian Marriage, pray for all those who are married, that their marriage may reflect the love of Christ.

Day 8

Today, in the prayer to St. Raphael for love, as you pray to St. Raphael, protector of travelers, reflect on the possibility of a long-distance relationship.

Day 9

On the final day of the St. Raphael prayer for a spouse, we conclude this Novena, praying for clarity in seeing God’s will for our lives, especially in recognizing who it is that God wants us to be with.

Other prayers to St Raphael the Archangel

Interested in increasing your devotion to St. Raphael? Check out these other prayers! These ones are not novenas but can be said on their own (or for nine days to turn them into a novena if you would like to do so).

St. Raphael prayer for singles seeking a soulmate

All single Catholics should consider saying this prayer for a soulmate!

O Raphael, lead us towards those we are waiting for, those who are waiting for us! Raphael, Angel of Happy Meetings and Catholic singles, lead us by the hand towards those we are looking for! May all our movements, all their movements, be guided by your Light and transfigured by your Joy. Angel Guide of Tobias, lay the request we now address to you at the feet of Him on whose unveiled Face you are privileged to gaze. Lonely and tired, crushed by the separations and sorrows of earth, we feel the need of calling to you and of pleading for the protection of your wings, so that we may not be as strangers in the Province of Joy, all ignorant of the concerns of our country. Remember the weak, you who are strong--you whose home lies beyond the region of thunder, in a land that is always peaceful, always serene, and bright with the resplendent glory of God. Amen.

Prayer to Saint Raphael for marriage

This prayer to Archangel Raphael for a marriage partner has been said for many years.

O Glorious St. Raphael, Archangel of healing, intercede for our marriage today. Bring our marriage the same heavenly gifts you brought Tobias and Sarah, the celestial graces of healing, deliverance, and marital unity. Infuse into our hearts the peace and confidence that nothing is impossible with God concerning the renewal of our marriage. Rekindle in our marriage new forgiveness, new humility, new grace, new peace, new purity, new trust, and new love.

O St. Raphael, one of the seven who stand before the throne of God, intercede to the Merciful Father for the miracle of peace and reconciliation in our marriage, through the infinite merits of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, and the consoling power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

St. Raphael prayer for happy meetings

O Raphael, lead us toward those we are waiting for, those who are waiting for us.

Raphael, Angel of happy meeting, lead us by the hand toward those we are looking for.

May all our movements be guided by your light and transfigured with your joy.

Angel, guide of Tobias, lay the request we now address to you at the feet of Him on whose unveiled face you are privileged to gaze.

Lonely and tired, crushed by the separations and sorrows of life, we feel the need of calling you and of pleading for the protection of your wings, that we may not be as strangers in the province of joy, all ignorant of the concerns of our country.

Remember the weak, you who are strong, you whose home lies beyond the region of thunder, in a land that is always peaceful, always serene and bright with the resplendent glory of God. 

Final points about praying to St. Raphael

If you’ve been feeling discouraged in your search for a spouse, St. Raphael may be the help you need. He is often known as a consoler of those who are single. If you're tired of being single, it may be time to start saying a St. Raphael prayer for a spouse.

Saint Raphael the Archangel is also a patron of victims of disease and infirmities. He is known as the Angel of Health, so he can be a great intercessor for more than just your single years!

If you’ve never asked for his intercession before, try it! If you have, it doesn’t hurt to ask again. Let St. Raphael be a reminder in your life of God’s infinite care and provision.

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