Said Raphael:
“I will not conceal anything from you.
I have said, ‘It is good to guard the secret of a king, but gloriously to reveal the works of God.’
And so, when you and your daughter-in-law Sarah prayed, I brought a reminder of your prayer before the Holy One; and when you buried the dead, I was likewise present with you.
Book of Tobit 12:11-21
When you did not hesitate to rise and leave your dinner in order to go and lay out the dead, your good deed was not hidden from me, but I was with you.
So now God sent me to heal you and your daughter-in-law Sarah.
I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels who present the prayers of the saints and enter into the presence of the glory of the Holy One.”
They were both alarmed; and they fell upon their faces, for they were afraid.
But he said to them, “Do not be afraid; you will be safe. But praise God for ever.
For I did not come as a favor on my part, but by the will of our God. Therefore praise him for ever.
All these days I merely appeared to you and did not eat or drink, but you were seeing a vision.
And now give thanks to God, for I am ascending to him who sent me. Write in a book everything that has happened.”
Then they stood up; but they saw him no more.”