mercredi 25 octobre 2023

Sainte TABITHA de JOPPÉ (DORCAS), veuve

 

Santa Tabìta di Ioppe

A stained-glass window depicting the Biblical figure of Saint Dorcas in the Church of St John the Evangelist, Sidcup.


Tabitha

Ressuscitée par l'apôtre Pierre (Ier siècle)

ou Dorcas, ressuscitée à Joppé par saint Pierre. (Actes des apôtres 9. 37)

Prénom féminin (Biblique)

Etymologie 'gazelle' en araméen

ou Dorcas.

Chrétienne de Jaffa, amie et bienfaitrice des pauvres, ressuscitée par Saint Pierre. Act 9.36-43

36 Il y avait aussi à Jaffa une femme disciple du Seigneur, appelée Tabitha (ce nom veut dire : Gazelle). Toute sa vie se passait en bonnes actions et en aumônes.

37 Or, il arriva en ces jours-là qu'elle tomba malade et qu'elle mourut. Après la toilette funèbre, on la déposa dans la chambre du haut.

38 Comme Lod est près de Jaffa, les disciples, apprenant que Pierre s'y trouvait, lui envoyèrent deux hommes avec cet appel : « Viens chez nous sans tarder. »

39 Pierre se mit en route avec eux. A son arrivée on le fit monter à la chambre du haut, où il trouva toutes les veuves en larmes : elles lui montraient les tuniques et les manteaux que Tabitha faisait quand elle était avec elles.

40 Pierre fit sortir tout le monde, se mit à genoux et pria, puis il se tourna vers le corps, et il dit : « Tabitha, lève-toi ! » Elle ouvrit les yeux et, voyant Pierre, elle se redressa et s'assit.

41 Pierre, lui donnant la main, la fit lever. Puis il appela les fidèles et les veuves et la leur présenta vivante.

SOURCE : https://nominis.cef.fr/contenus/prenom/5732/Tabitha.html

SAINTE TABITHA

ressuscitée par l’apôtre Pierre (1er s.)

Tabitha fait partie des premiers chrétiens en Israël. Alors qu’elle est morte, Saint Pierre la réssucite. Ce témoignage de foi provoque beaucoup de conversions.

Sainte Tabitha, priez pour nous et veillez sur Israël. 

SOURCE : https://prieraujourdhui.com/saints/34915/

Vitrail représentant Sainte Dorcas.
Église de la paroisse St. Michael à MytholmroydYorkshire de l'Ouest.

Saint Dorcas Window St. Michael's Parish Church, Mytholmroyd, West Yorkshire


Saint Tabitha

Also known as

Dorcas

Tabìta

Memorial

25 October

Profile

Married lay woman in Joppa (in modern Israel). SeamstressWidow. Mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles. When she fell ill and died, she was raised from the dead by Saint Peter the Apostle.

Died

1st century

Canonized

Pre-Congregation

Additional Information

books

Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints

other sites in english

Catholic Online

Orthodox Church in America

Wikipedia

images

Wikimedia Commons

video

YouTube PlayList

fonti in italiano

Cathopedia

Santi e Beati

Wikipedia

Readings

Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated means Dorcas). She was completely occupied with good deeds and almsgiving. Now during those days she fell sick and died, so after washing her, they laid [her] out in a room upstairs. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, “Please come to us without delay.” So Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs where all the widows came to him weeping and showing him the tunics and cloaks that Dorcas had made while she was with them. Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed. Then he turned to her body and said, “Tabitha, rise up.” She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up. He gave her his hand and raised her up, and when he had called the holy ones and the widows, he presented her alive. This became known all over Joppa, and many came to believe in the Lord. – Acts 9:36-42

MLA Citation

“Saint Tabitha“. CatholicSaints.Info. 27 October 2022. Web. 25 October 2023. <https://catholicsaints.info/saint-tabitha/>

SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/saint-tabitha/

St. Tabitha

Feastday: October 25

Death: 1st century

Widow of Joppa (in modern Israel), who was mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles (9:36-42) as one who "was completely occupied with good deeds and almsgiving." She fell ill and died and was raised from the dead by St. Peter. Tabitha is sometimes called Dorcas.

SOURCE : https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=1904

Altar of St. Peter raising Tabitha
painting Costanzi, 1757
mosaic, 1758-1760

Tabitha was the woman of Jaffa.
(Acts 9:36-42)

The miracle is shown in a mosaic inspired by a painting by Placido Costanzi (1702-1759).

From: 'St. Peter's Basilica - A Virtual Tour' by Our Sunday Visitor

Facing the tomb is the Tabitha Altar, flanked by two columns in gray granite and consecrated in 1726. The mosaic altarpiece showing the Resurrection of the Widow Tabitha by Peter in the city of Joppe, was executed in 1760 from the original by Costanzi, now in the church of Santa Maria degli Angeli, which had replaced an earlier fresco over the altar by Baglione.

From: 'The Mosaics of Saint Peter's' by Frank DiFrederico
The cartoon was painted by Placido Costanzi, who received payment for it on 31 July 1740. The picture was to replace the altarpiece by Giovanni Baglione, painted in about 1604 to 1606 but in complete ruin by the mid-eighteenth century. The Costanzi cartoon was neglected for several years. In March 1756 the Congregazione della Reverenda Fabbrica finally decided to execute the mosaic, and in 1758 Costanzi was paid 450 scudi for repainting his picture. The picture is signed and dated 1757. The mosaic was executed by Giuseppe Ottaviani, Guglielmo Paleat, Bernardino Regoli, and Giovanni Freancesco Fiani from 1758 to 1760. Costanzi's picture, along with a copy of Baglione's painting, is now in S. Maria degli Angeli, Rome. 

SOURCE : https://stpetersbasilica.info/Altars/StPeter-Tabitha/StPeter-Tabitha.htm


Saint of the Day: St. Tabitha

Disciple of Saint Peter

Widow(First Century)

Her life

+ What we know about Saint Tabitha (who is also called Dorcas) comes to us from the Acts of the Apostles.

+ Tabitha lived in Joppa. Acts relates that when she died, “all the widows came to him weeping and showing him the tunics and cloaks that Dorcas had made while she was with them” (9:39).

+ It seems that she was a woman of standing within the community who was able to provide for the needs of widows and the poor.

+ The Christians in Joppa asked Peter to come to the town. Peter then prayed over Tabitha’s body and the woman was restored to life: “He gave her his hand and raised her up, and when he had called the holy ones and the widows, he presented her alive.

For prayer and reflection

“Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated means Dorcas). She was completely occupied with good deeds and almsgiving.”—Acts 9:36

Spiritual bonus

On October 26 we also remember Blessed Celina Chludzinska. Honored as a founder of the Sisters of the Resurrection, she died in Krakow, Poland, in 1913 and was beatified in 2007.

Prayer

O God, the exaltation of the lowly, who willed that blessed Tabitha should excel in the beauty of her charity and patience, grant, through her merits and intercession, that, carrying our cross each day, we may always persevere in love for you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(from The Roman Missal: Common of Holy Men and Women—For a Holy Woman)

Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.

SOURCE : https://aleteia.org/daily-prayer/wednesday-october-26/

Αγία Ταβιθά

Saint Dorcas, Saint Tabitha in Eastern tradition


Saint Tabitha the Widow, raised from the dead by the Apostle Peter

Commemorated on October 25

Troparion & Kontakion

Saint Tabitha, the widow raised from the dead by the Apostle Peter, was a virtuous and kindly woman who belonged to the Christian community in Joppa. Being grievously ill, she suddenly died. At the time, the Apostle Peter was preaching at Lydda, not far from Joppa. Messengers were sent to him with an urgent request for help. When the Apostle arrived at Joppa, Tabitha was already dead. On bended knee, Saint Peter made a fervent prayer to the Lord. Then he went to the bed and called out, “Tabitha, get up!” She arose, completely healed (Acts 9:36).

Saint Tabitha is considered the patron saint of tailors and seamstresses, since she was known for sewing coats and other garments (Acts 9:39).

SOURCE : https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2013/10/25/103058-saint-tabitha-the-widow-raised-from-the-dead-by-the-apostle-pete

Religion / Biblical Theology / Hagiology

Lambros Skontzos, Theologian

Saint Tabitha: the Charitable Daughter of the Early Church

30 October 2019

Love and charity are synonymous with Christianity. The basis of the Christian message is love towards all other people, regardless of who they are. Nothing should be an impediment to the exercise of Christian love: not sex, race or socio-economic status. Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself not only taught love towards others, but also made it a condition for those who want to belong to Him: ‘I give you a new commandment, that you should love one another. As I have loved you, so shall you love one another. In this, everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another’ (Jn. 13, 34-35). He Himself also gave an example of serving others when He washed His disciples’ feet before the Last Supper and advised them: ‘Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you’(Jn. 13, 13-15). And this love should extend to our enemies, as well: ‘Love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting any return’ (Luke 6, 35).

Our holy Church has been putting Christ’s commandment of love into practice for two thousand years now, generously providing charity to people. Outstanding personalities within the Church have, in their day, demonstrated their love and stamped their activities on history. One such was Saint Tabitha (Dorkas/‘gazelle’), who lived at the time of the Apostles and proved to be an example of charity and service to those in need.

Saint Luke mentions Tabitha in the Acts of the Apostles: ‘She was devoted to good works and acts of charity’ (9, 36). She lived in the Palestinian town of Joppa, where she was a weaver by trade. She’d become a Christian and lived out her faith in her everyday life. Her heart overflowed with innocent love for those of her fellow-citizens who were in pain or poverty. For this reason she worked day and night making clothing which she then sold, giving the proceeds to those in need. At the same time, she was flanked by the Christians in the town, who also engaged in impressive charitable activity. A whole host of hungry people, widows and orphans, were grateful objects of Saint Tabitha’s love and charity. But God allowed her to undergo a harsh trial, so that His name would be glorified and that she would be recognized as a saint. She suddenly fell ill and died.

At that time, Saint Peter was visiting the region. He was teaching in the nearby town of Lydda when he was told about the tragic event by two men sent by the faithful in Joppa. Peter at once set off for the town, where everything was prepared for Tabitha’s funeral. He found a large crowd inside and outside her house, mourning the loss of such a fine lady. Those who had benefitted from her charity wept inconsolably, because they’d lost their support.

As soon as Peter arrived he asked to see the dead woman, in the upper room. After asking to be left alone with Tabitha’s honorable corpse, he knelt and prayed fervently. Then he said aloud: ‘Tabitha, get up now’. What a miracle! Her spirit returned to her body and she arose. This miraculous event not only filled those present with joy, but it was relayed throughout Palestine. As a result God’s name was glorified and many Jews and pagans turned to Christianity.

Thereafter, Saint Tabitha lived a good many years, continuing with her charitable works before dying at an advanced age. The Church numbered her among the saints and she’s commemorated on October 25.

We need to bear in mind the enduring charitable work of the Church, which flows naturally from our belief that Christ is depicted in the face of each person and that, according to His assertion; ‘Indeed, I tell you that inasmuch as you did so to one of the least of my brethren, you did so to me’ (Matth. 25, 40). We should also take note of the fact that charity was exclusive to Christianity, because the notion was unheard of in the pre-Christian world. There’s no evidence of any organized charity network or philanthropic institutions. From the huge amount of wealth at the shrines of the pagan religion, such as Delphi, for example, not the smallest amount was ever spent to relieve people in pain. There’s absolutely no evidence of this. In fact, when Julian the Apostate, in the 4th century, wanted to resurrect paganism, he asked the pagan priests to imitate the Christians in their performance of works of charity because the practice was not one they engaged in.

The history of our Church is full of immeasurable works of charity performed over the centuries. With self-denial, thousands of imitators of Saint Tabitha have generously offered their services and their goods to people in need, especially when times have been hard. And, indeed, today, when, in Greece, for example, people are undergoing real economic difficulties, caused by human greed, the Church is feeding and caring for a whole host of fellow-citizens who have been abandoned by both the official State and the various other ‘humane’ institutions. It is doing so through the love shown by volunteers, the thousands of imitators of Saint Tabitha.

SOURCE : https://pemptousia.com/2019/10/saint-tabitha-the-charitable-daughter-of-the-early-church/

Masolino da Panicale e MasaccioSan Pietro e san Giovanni evangelista guariscono lo storpio e san Pietro resuscita Tabita (1424 - 1428), affresco; Firenze, Chiesa di Santa Maria del Carmine, cappella Brancacci


Masolino da Panicale  (1383–1447), Guarigione dello storpio e resurrezione di Tabita (restaurato) / Healing of the Cripple and Raising of Tabitha, 1424, 260 x 599, FirenzeSanta Maria del Carmine Cappella Brancacci


Santa Tabìta di Ioppe Vedova

25 ottobre

Sec. I

Donna buona, caritatevole, attenta ai bisogni dei fratelli, molto amata nella sua comunità: “Abbondava in opere buone, faceva elemosine”, era attenta ai poveri, confezionava abiti e mantelli… La sua morte improvvisa porta dolore a tutte le comunità. Pietro, chiamato, dirà alla donna: “Talità, alzati!” E’ quasi un’eco di quel “Talità kum” pronunciato da Gesù nella guarigione della figli

Senza nessuna memoria di Santo registrata per oggi dal Calendario della Chiesa, rinverdiremo il ricordo di una Santa dal nome insolito: Tabita. Nome che diviene, però, quanto mai suggestivo quando si sappia che Tabita in ebraico, significava " gazzella ", e che " gazzella ", a sua volta, era nome composto con la parola ebraica " bellezza ", evidentemente grazie alla delicata eleganza di questo animale.

In greco, la Santa di oggi è chiamata Dorcas: il significato di questo nome è identico, perché vuoi dire anch'esso " gazzella ".

Che cosa sappiamo sul conto della gazzella cristiana? Conosciamo soprattutto - anzi, esclusivamente - un episodio narrato dagli Atti degli Apostoli, che resta tra i miracoli più celebri dell'Apostolo Pietro.

Rileggiamo insieme: " C'era nella terra di loppe, - è scritto, - una cara discepola, chiamata Tabíta, che tradotto significava Dorcas. Era donna ricca di buone opere, e faceva molte elemosine.

" Avvenne che proprio in quei giorni ella si ammalò, e morì. E, dopo che l'ebbero lavata, la posero nella sala al piano di sopra. Siccome Lidda era vicina a Joppe, i discepoli, saputo che Pietro era lì, gli mandarono due uomini a pregarlo: "Non ti dispiaccia venire sino noi! ".

" Pietro si levò, e andò con loro e, come fu giunto, lo condussero nella sala di sopra. Tutte le vedove gli si fecero intorno, piangendo, mostrando le vesti e i mantelli di ogni genere che Dorcas faceva per loro.

" Allora Pietro, fatti uscire tutti fuori, si mise in ginocchio e pregò. Poi, rivoltosi alla morta, disse: "Tabíta, alzati”, ed ella apri gli occhi e, vedendo Pietro, si levò a sedere.

" Pietro le dette una mano, e la fece alzare e, chiamati i santi e le vedove, la presentò a loro viva.

" Il fatto - aggiungono gli Atti degli Apostoli -venne risaputo per tutta loppe, e molti credettero nel Signore. Pietro si fermò a Joppe diversi giorni, in casa di un certo Simone, cuoiaio ".

Nulla di più sappiamo sul conto della donna di Joppe, cioè deIl'odierna città di Giaffa. L'episodio miracoloso narrato dagli Atti degli Apostoli è l'unica testimonianza storica alla quale è affidato il ricordo della " gazzella " cristiana, richiamata in vita dalle preghiere di San Pietro.

I Greci introdussero il nome della " cara discepola " nel Calendario dei Santi, ma non si può dire che Tabita abbia mai conosciuto un culto particolare né una diffusa devozione. La sua memoria, tra i Santi, è restata sempre un po' in disparte, e neanche le leggende hanno aggiunto un seguito al clamoroso miracolo di loppe.

Ma la memoria della gazzella risvegliata dal sonno eterno dalle preghiere di San Pietro non si è perduta, e dalle pagine del testo ispirato, la figura della donna generosa si leva ancora eloquente davanti a noi, pur nell'oscurità che la circonda prima e poi.

Fonte : Archivio Parrocchia

SOURCE : https://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/90401

Voir aussi : http://cbw.iath.virginia.edu/women_display.php?id=9146

https://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2021/10/saint-tabitha-merciful-as-model-for-our.html

https://frted.wordpress.com/2022/10/25/st-tabitha/