The Archangel St. Raphael Holy Healing Ministry, Inc. (ASRHHM, Inc.) was founded in the 1990s by Fr. Joseph Whalen, M.S., a La Salette priest. Devoted to the Archangel Raphael, Fr. Whalen was prompted by the Holy Spirit to begin preparing, blessing, and using the St. Raphael Oil in his healing services. Before long, hundreds of bottles were being distributed at his services and shipped around the world.
Fr. Whalen went to eternal life in 2016, but his legacy and love for this ministry continues. With God’s help and many years of service, the ministry has grown and become internationally known. It is still operated by Fr. Whalen’s core group in South Grafton, Massachusetts, and is staffed 100% by volunteers. Today, about 3,000 bottles of the St. Raphael Oil are shipped each month across the United States and to 109 countries.
The Oil
- Contents: 100% pure virgin olive oil with crushed rose petals from Catholic churches and shrines.
- Blessing: Blessed and exorcized according to the Roman Ritual, with a complete invocative blessing given by a Catholic priest, in accordance with the Authority and Magisterium of the Roman Catholic Church.
- Form: Distributed only in ½-ounce bottles, each with a prayer card.
- Status: A sacramental like holy water. It is not the holy oil used in the Church’s sacraments. It is never sold; donations are gratefully accepted to support preparation and distribution.
The St. Raphael Oil is prepared exactly as Fr. Whalen prescribed. It is not to be mixed, extended, or added to other oils.
Use of the Oil
The St. Raphael Oil is used in a similar way to holy water. It may be used to:
- Bless oneself or another (by proxy if needed).
- Place a small cross of oil above doorposts or windows.
- Pray for healing of body, mind, or spirit.
- Use as a healing balm and for protection against evil and pestilence.
It is for personal use and is not to be confused with the holy oils used in the sacraments, which are administered only by a priest. The use of blessed oil by lay people is an ancient custom of the Catholic Church, comparable to the use of blessed salt, palms, ashes, and holy water.
The ministry emphasizes that God alone is the healer. Blessed oil is not associated with superstitions or magical power; it is a symbol of God’s grace at work through faith and the intercession of the Archangel St. Raphael.
Testimonies of Healing
The ministry continues to receive healing testimonies from around the world. Many healings—spiritual, mental, and physical—have occurred by the grace of Jesus Christ through the intercession of St. Raphael. Some are healed instantly, others progressively, and sometimes in ways different from what was requested, according to God’s will.
Oil in the Bible
Oil has been used in Scripture for consecration, healing, light, and joy. Examples cited by the ministry include:
- “You anoint my head with oil” (Psalm 23:5).
- “They anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them” (Mark 6:13).
- “Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord” (James 5:14).
From Moses’ anointing of priests and kings to the use of oil in healing, oil became a symbol of God’s blessing and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Jesus, the Anointed One, fulfilled these promises, and His disciples were first called “Christians” (“anointed ones”) (Acts 11:26).
The Word of St. Raphael
“Bless God, and proclaim Him as King. Give thanks to Him before all the living for the good He has done for you.”
Tobit 12:6
To Learn More
The Archangel St. Raphael Holy Healing Ministry continues Fr. Whalen’s mission. Every bottle is prepared and distributed by volunteers, with 100% of donations used for the ministry.