Great job, Peter, wonderful! As a long-time member of St. Raphael's Church in the Diocese of Ogdensburg, I have read Tobit on multiple occasions. I've also wanted to make a puppet play about it (years ago - I no longer have my theater). I always recommend it to anyone who wants to read the Bible. Ahem! Just curious: Did the Archangel Raphael tell a falsehood when he told Tobit that he was, "Azariah, son of Hananiah the elder, one of your own kinsmen." Then the blind Tobit says, "Do not be provoked with me, brother, for wanting to learn the truth about your family... you are a kinsman, and from a noble and good line!" Tobit used to worship with Azariah's father Hananiah in Jerusalem. Inquiring minds...
Hi Deacon, thanks for the feedback! It's a fair and good question. The Catechism defines lying as telling a falsehood with the intent to deceive. I don't believe Raphael did either one of these things, not that it were even possible for him to commit a sin.
A somewhat clunky article I found on this subject some time ago...
...had this to say, which I think addresses the point pretty well:
*** There is no falsehood in this statement, since “Azarias” means “the healer of YHWH” and “Ananias” means “The goodness of YHWH” or “The grace of YHWH”. Now, the Angel was then only disguising his true name (which means “God’s healer”) and testifying that he is sent into the world by God’s goodness. Thus, he gives his name through a certain riddle – but Tobit was thereby led to believe that the Angel was only a man. ***
So, I consider it more a question of metaphorical language and maybe a bit of misdirection more than falsehood because he actually was the "healer of YHWH" and his Father, metaphorically, was Goodness Himself! Kinsman and elder and father are all metaphorically used. If Tobit later ran into the actual Hannaniah and started singing the praises of this Azariah character, Raphael might have been in a bit of trouble haha.
St. Raphael is my favorite angel as he is the healing angel. Each was given a special mission by God to serve us. I remember waking up early one morning surprised to see someone next to me. I got up slowly and while doing so he slowly went to the door and just disappeared . I thought I had caught my angel guarding me. I still remember vividly up to now. I know an angel is guarding me in everything I do. What a blessing!
Wow, Virginia, that's a special blessing! A real consolation. I believe in such occurrences. The Book of Tobit is sadly missing in the Protestant bibles because Martin Luther took it out, but it is triuly a delight. In the Catholic Bible, it comes after the historical books and before the Wisdom and Prophetic books of the Old Testament. If you find Judith, Esther, and Maccabees, you've gone too far.
Great job, Peter, wonderful! As a long-time member of St. Raphael's Church in the Diocese of Ogdensburg, I have read Tobit on multiple occasions. I've also wanted to make a puppet play about it (years ago - I no longer have my theater). I always recommend it to anyone who wants to read the Bible. Ahem! Just curious: Did the Archangel Raphael tell a falsehood when he told Tobit that he was, "Azariah, son of Hananiah the elder, one of your own kinsmen." Then the blind Tobit says, "Do not be provoked with me, brother, for wanting to learn the truth about your family... you are a kinsman, and from a noble and good line!" Tobit used to worship with Azariah's father Hananiah in Jerusalem. Inquiring minds...
Hi Deacon, thanks for the feedback! It's a fair and good question. The Catechism defines lying as telling a falsehood with the intent to deceive. I don't believe Raphael did either one of these things, not that it were even possible for him to commit a sin.
A somewhat clunky article I found on this subject some time ago...
https://newtheologicalmovement.blogspot.com/2012/10/did-st-raphael-lie-when-he-said-i-am.html?m=1
...had this to say, which I think addresses the point pretty well:
*** There is no falsehood in this statement, since “Azarias” means “the healer of YHWH” and “Ananias” means “The goodness of YHWH” or “The grace of YHWH”. Now, the Angel was then only disguising his true name (which means “God’s healer”) and testifying that he is sent into the world by God’s goodness. Thus, he gives his name through a certain riddle – but Tobit was thereby led to believe that the Angel was only a man. ***
So, I consider it more a question of metaphorical language and maybe a bit of misdirection more than falsehood because he actually was the "healer of YHWH" and his Father, metaphorically, was Goodness Himself! Kinsman and elder and father are all metaphorically used. If Tobit later ran into the actual Hannaniah and started singing the praises of this Azariah character, Raphael might have been in a bit of trouble haha.
I would love to read that book.
St. Raphael is my favorite angel as he is the healing angel. Each was given a special mission by God to serve us. I remember waking up early one morning surprised to see someone next to me. I got up slowly and while doing so he slowly went to the door and just disappeared . I thought I had caught my angel guarding me. I still remember vividly up to now. I know an angel is guarding me in everything I do. What a blessing!
Wow, Virginia, that's a special blessing! A real consolation. I believe in such occurrences. The Book of Tobit is sadly missing in the Protestant bibles because Martin Luther took it out, but it is triuly a delight. In the Catholic Bible, it comes after the historical books and before the Wisdom and Prophetic books of the Old Testament. If you find Judith, Esther, and Maccabees, you've gone too far.
I haven't opened my Bible for a while. I'll have to do that.
Endless love and fidelity...my precious companions ,,,until we meet again xoxo
Yes, 1000%!