Juke Box - Episode 9
Mass for the Patron Saint of Healing!
This is a Special Edition for a friend about to undergo coronary bypass surgery. Prayers are most welcome.
Hello again SkepsisNation, and welcome to another installment of Ol’ Doc’s Juke Box.
Being a former FM radio jazz DJ and professional church singer, my musical interests are many and varied. This is my sub-Stack for sharing music both close to my heart and worthy of your time.
Feel free to leave a comment, including suggestions for future episodes.1
A quick websearch turned this up:
The most common name called upon as the Patron Saint of Healing is St. Raphael, one of the three Archangels actually mentioned by name in the Bible. In the Book of Tobit, he reveals himself as a healer of mind, body and spirit. St. Raphael brought about Tobit’s healing by accompanying Tobit’s son Tobias on a journey to find a special kind of fish liver with healing properties. Returning home with his bride Sarah, Tobias laid the fish liver on Tobit’s eyes and his blindness was healed.
On top of that, while not directly mentioned but understood through tradition, St. Raphael is believed to be the angel that stirred the waters at the healing sheep pool in Bethesda, mentioned in the Book of John.
If that was not enough, the word Raphael in Hebrew can be rendered as “God heals,” “Divine Healer,” or “Remedy of God.”
My search for music honoring St. Raphael only returned one hit, but it’s a monster…written by the younger brother of the legendary ‘Papa Haydn,’ Michael Haydn.
Here, then, is today’s featured work: the Missa Sancti Raphaelis of Johann Michael Haydn (composed in 1768) - performed by Ensemble Wieden / Ricardo Luna. 2
I hope you enjoy today’s selection, and TYVM for listening.
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