Novena for Raphael, the Second of Nine Nights
/“All day I think about it, then at night I say it.
Where did I come from, and what am I supposed to be doing?
I have no idea.
My soul is from elsewhere, I'm sure of that,
And I intend to end up back there again!"
- Rumi
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Raphael’s earthly mission has ended.
He fought the good fight and ran the good race.
We can only be in awe of his achievements and thank God for his life’s work.
We are so proud of you, brother and friend. How we will miss you.
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Psalm 91 for Raphael
You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High
and abide in the shade of the Almighty.
Shall say to the Lord,
"You are my refuge and my stronghold,
my God in whom I put my trust."
God shall deliver you from the snare
of the fowler who seeks to destroy you,
and from the deadly pestilence.
God shall cover you with his pinions,
and you shall find refuge under his wings;
His faithfulness shall be a shield and buckler.
You shall not be afraid of any terror by night,
nor of the arrow that flies by day;
Of the plague that stalks in the darkness,
nor of the sickness that lays waste at mid-day.
A thousand shall fall at your side
and ten thousand at your right hand,
but it shall not come near you.
Your eyes only have to behold
to see the reward of the wicked.
Because you have made the Lord your refuge,
and the Most High your habitation,
No evil shall befall you,
neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.
For he shall give his angels charge over you,
to keep you in all your ways.
They shall bear you in their hands,
lest you dash your foot against a stone.
You shall tread upon the lion and the adder;
you shall trample the young lion and the serpent
under your feet.
Because you are bound to me in love,
therefore will I deliver you;
I will protect you, because she know my Name.
You shall call upon me, and I will answer "I am with you!"
I am with you in trouble;
I will rescue you and bring you to honor.
With long life will I satisfy you,
and show you my salvation.
Amen
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On the death of the Beloved
Though we need to weep your loss,
You dwell in that safe place in our hearts,
Where no storm or night or pain can reach you.
Your love was like the dawn
Brightening over our lives
Awakening beneath the dark
A further adventure of colour.
The sound of your voice
Found for us
A new music
That brightened everything.
Whatever you enfolded in your gaze
Quickened in the joy of its being;
You placed smiles like flowers
On the altar of the heart.
Your mind always sparkled
With wonder at things.
We look towards each other no longer
From the old distance of our names;
Now you dwell inside the rhythm of breath,
As close to us as we are to ourselves.
Though we cannot see you with outward eyes,
We know our soul’s gaze is upon your face,
Smiling back at us from within everything
To which we bring our best refinement.
Let us not look for you only in memory,
Where we would grow lonely without you.
You would want us to find you in presence,
Beside us when beauty brightens,
When kindness glows
And music echoes eternal tones.
When orchids brighten the earth,
Darkest winter has turned to spring;
May this dark grief flower with hope
In every heart that loves you.
May you continue to inspire us:
To enter each day with a generous heart.
To serve the call of courage and love
Until we see your beautiful face again
In that land where there is no more separation,
Where all tears will be wiped from our mind,
And where we will never lose you again.
-- John O’Donohue
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Rapho, may the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord let His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you.
May the Lord look upon you kindly, and grant you eternal peace.
Eternal rest grant unto him, dear Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.
May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God rest in peace.
May the Mighty God who blessed our ancestors
- the Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,
-the Matriarchs Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah
welcome Raphael into eternity.
May the Holy Blessed One overflow with compassion for all his family and friends,
to restore them, to heal them, to strengthen them, to enliven them.
The Mighty God will send, speedily, consolation and peace — healing of the soul and healing of the body — upon all who suffer any ill,
among all the peoples and all humankind, soon, speedily, without delay, and let us all say: Amen.”
