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Archangel Raphael Medieval Travel:
Archangel Raphael is the ultimate traveler, not only because he is the patron saint of travelers, but because angels themselves are perhaps the most enchanting travelers of all time. Medieval pilgrims traveled on pilgrimages in order to seek external salvation and comfort in God. They wanted to close the seemingly huge gap between themselves and the Divine. Medieval pilgrims would ask Saints, Angels, and the Virgin Mary to intercede on their behalf. Due to the fact that Archangel Raphael is the patron Saint of travelers, he holds a special connection to medieval pilgrims. Archangel Raphael acted as a "middle man" to help relay messages from humans to God, and keep travelers safe while on their journey.
The concept of Raphael as an archangel embraces a hierarchical notion within the angelic world; in a similar way medieval people were restricted to structured social hierarchy as well. That may have been why the archangels were an appealing figure to look up to, because medieval people themselves were so accustomed to social hierarchy that it became a part of their culture and way of being. The idea that the world is hierarchical stemmed partly from the 5th century Christian Neoplatonist, Denis the pseudo-Aeropagite and Proclus. Their beliefs encouraged the medieval mindset that all people had a specific purpose and there was supposed to be a hierarchical order in society. Medieval people could relate to the concept of social hierarchy, therefore praying to an intermediate source such as angels, felt more accessible than praying directly to the awesomeness of God.