It
is a fact that in the modern world, it is becoming more and more difficult to
get married. Statistically speaking, you’re even more unlikely to tie the knot
if you go to Church, which can be a bit depressing, to say the least. However,
there is hope out there - Cheltenham Young Catholic Adults, for example, has
produced 4 marriages in the last few years! For the national Young Catholic Adults
weekend click here.
But
what happens, I hear you say, if you don’t belong to a small but convinced
Catholic community for younger adults, what if the average age of your Parish
is “getting on” a bit? There’s still no reason to panic; there is an answer out
there – namely St. Raphael.
He
is the patron of travellers, the blind,
happy meetings, nurses, physicians, medical workers, as well as the saint that
will find you that faithful and holy spouse, why not ask for his intercession?
Please see below for a Novena to St Raphael for younger people desirous of making a good
marriage:-
NOVENA PRAYER TO ST RAPHAEL
O Glorious St. Raphael, Patron and Lover of the Young,
I call upon thee and plead with thee for thy help.In all confidence I open my
heart to thee, to beg thy guidance and assistance in the important task of
planning my future. Obtain for me through thy intercession the light of God’s
grace, so that I may decide wisely concerning the person who is to be my
partner through life. O Angel of Happy Meetings, lead us by the hand to find
each other. May all our movements be guided by thy light and transfigured by
thy joy. As thou didst lead the young Tobias to Sara and opened up for him a
new life of happiness with her in holy marriage, lead me to such a one whom in
thine angelic wisdom thou dost judge best suited to be united with me in
marriage.
St. Raphael, loving Patron of those seeking a marriage partner, help me in this supreme decision of my life. Find for me as a helpmate in life that person whose character will reflect 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.
St. Raphael, Angel of chaste courtship, bless our friendship and our love, 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 thy prayers to God for both of us and obtain the blessing of God upon our marriage, as thou wert the herald of blessing for the marriage of Tobias and Sara.
St. Raphael, Friend of the Young, be thou my friend, for I shall always be thine. I desire ever to invoke thee in my needs. To thy special care I entrust the decision I am to make as to my future wife (husband). 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.
In honour of St. Raphael recite one Our Father, Hail
Mary, and Glory be.
