San Rafael de Calaca - The Dark Skinned Patron of Calaca, Batangas

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San Rafael de Calaca
The municipality of Calaca, located in Batangas province, known for its scenic beaches, resorts and its tasty atsara, is also known as a local pilgrim shrine in the province of  Batangas. Pilgrims would flock Calaca because it was here that the miraculous dark skinned San Rafael Arcangel is enshrined in his Archdiocesan Shrine - the only one of its kind in local religious art. The Black San Rafael gained much local following over the centuries due to the numerous miracles that were attributed to his intercession and the devotion became part of everyday life of the people of Calaca that one can see replicas or posters of San Rafael in homes, public and private transport among others.

The image

The image of San Rafael Arcangel of Calaca, Batanags is one of the most unique venerated images in the country for this is the only image of St. Raphael with dark skin.

The reason of the dark complexion of this image was connected to the accounts of St. John of God. Saint John of God, founder of the Hospital order that bears his name, is said to have received visitations from Saint Raphael, who encouraged and instructed him on different matters. On one occassion,  a fire broke out in the house, John ran back into the burning building countless times, carrying the sick out on his back with the help of St. Rapahel the Archangel and it is said that the angel was covered with smoke and soot the he became visible to others.

San Rafael de Calaca
Aside from his dark complexion, the image is covered with metal from his vestment, crown, shoes, wings and even his walking staff with fishes and his basket of bread.

 Saint Raphael the Archangel - Healer of God

St. Raphael is one of the seven Archangels who stand before the throne of the Lord, and one of the only three mentioned by name in the Bible. He appears, by name, only in the Book of Tobit. Raphael's name means "God heals." This identity came about because of the biblical story that claims he "healed" the earth when it was defiled by the sins of the fallen angels in the apocryphal book of Enoch.

Disguised as a human in the Book of Tobit, Raphael refers to himself as "Azarias the son of the great Ananias" and travels alongside Tobit's son, Tobiah. Once Raphael returns from his journey with Tobiah, he declares to Tobit that he was sent by the Lord to heal his blindness and deliver Sarah, Tobiah's future wife, from the demon Asmodeus. It is then that his true healing powers are revealed and he makes himself known as "the angel Raphael, one of the seven, who stand before the Lord" Tobit 12:15.

The demon Asmodeus killed every man Sarah married on the night of the wedding, before the marriage could be consummated. St. Raphael guided Tobiah and taught him how to safely enter the marriage with Sarah. St. Raphael is credited with driving the evil spirit from Sarah and restoring Tobit's vision, allowing him to see the light of Heaven and for receiving all good things through his intercession.

St. Raphael is the patron saint of travelers, the blind, bodily ills, happy meetings, nurses, physicians and medical workers. He is often depicted holding a staff and holding a fish.

The Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Raphael the Archangel, Calaca, Batangas
The origins

The devotion to Saint Raphael the Archangel in Calaca, Batangas began in 1836 where the chapel was made from wooden materials and it became a parish on October 24, 1861 when the at the same time, the present stone Church was completed and it the structure and it's foundations are still seen up to the present.

Through the centuries, since it's enthronement, the Black San Rafael continues to garner many devotees and pilgrims and more miracles have been attributed to his intercession. In recognition, on October 24, 2014, former Archbishop Ramon Arguelles, DD elevated the parish as the Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Rafael the Archangel.

Procession of San Rafael de Calaca
The devotion at present

The devotion to St. Rafael the Archangel continues to flourish over the years. Devotees would flock on his shrine, especially on Wednesdays, the day dedicated to San Rafael. The feast of the miraculous dark image is celebrated every October 24, the Traditional feast of St. Raphael in the Tridentine calendar. The feast is celebrate with much Solemnity and color with a fluvial procession, a street fair known as the "Archangel Festival", the annual offering of Lua (a dalit or intercessory poem) and closes with a solemn procession.

The name Raphael, means “the remedy, or the physician of God,” and shows that this holy Angel assists particularly those who are sick, either in soul or body. The Church teaches those who intend to undertake a journey to pray: “May the Angel Raphael be with us on our way!” from which we infer, that he is the especial patron of all travelers. As we continue in this journey towards our true home, let us not forget to ask for his help, just like he did in the Old Testament and in the latter times, especially in these times of peril that hinder us in this journey.

References:

Mandanas, Severa, "San Rafael Archangel Parish Church in Calaca, Batangas", Retreived from https://severamandanas.blogspot.com/2017/02/san-rafael-archangel-parish-church-in.html on July 7, 2019.
Kasaysayan ng Dambana ni San Rafael Arcangel, Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/100007713189407/videos/1548588635408228/ on July 2, 2019.

Credits to the owners of the photos that were utilized to this blogpost.
Special thanks to Mr. Pier Giorgio Moral of the Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Raphael the Archangel, Calaca, Batangas.
+AM+DG+

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