Saint Raphael and the Patron Saints of Pharmacy

Discover the Catholic saints who shaped the history of pharmacy.

Told through the lives of 17 saints and blesseds connected to the field, Saint Raphael and the Patron Saints of Pharmacy traces the profession’s roots from Sirach and the Book of Tobit through medieval Baghdad, Wedgwood mortars, and the modern pharmacy counter. Discover why Saint James the Lesser is linked to the mortar and pestle, how Saint Mary Magdalene ties to the perfumer's trade, and why pharmacists still talk about keeping their “scruples.”

Each chapter pairs a short saint biography with a historical deep-dive into a pharmacy tradition, such as the mortar and pestle, show globes, medicine chests, pill rollers, apothecary apprenticeships. Chapters also contain a short prayer and a simple action inspired by the saint.

Written by Tracey L. Mersfelder, PharmD, a College of Pharmacy professor with over 20 years teaching a History of Pharmacy elective, Saint Raphael and the Patron Saints of Pharmacy carries a Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur.

Saint Raphael and the Patron Saints of Pharmacy is compact, timeless, and fact-filled devotional.

• Pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy students
• White coat ceremony or pharmacy school graduation gifts
• Catholics interested in the lives of the saints and Church history
• Anyone in healthcare looking for a devotional grounded in their profession