Christ Healing the Paralytic at the Pool of Bethesda
Murillo 1670, National Gallery, London (Yandex)
Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralysed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had
(John 5:2-4; NLT).
Saint Raphael,
Please hear my prayer,
And carry it to God,
Asking him to heal my life,
And spare me from his rod.
Saint Raphael,
Please stir the pool,
And help me to step in;
Then I will be forgiven,
And my mind set free from sin.
Saint Raphael,
Please hear my prayer,
And carry it above,
Asking God to mend my heart
With his unfailing love.
Saint Raphael,
Please stir the water;
Help me in, to bathe,
For then I will be whole again,
And my poor soul be saved.
He will save the souls of the needy
(Psalm 72:13; NHEB).
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