St. Tabitha

 I was with my sewing buddies this evening working on a little project for the parish, and we ran into some "sticky" issues. So of course we needed the intercession of a special patron saint. There are many Saints who are patrons of the needle arts, but there is one that stood out to me today.

St. Tabitha was a member of the early Christian church in Joppa, a port city in modern-day Israel. Her name means "female gazelle" in Aramaic (the Greek form of the name is Dorcas). In Chapter 9 of the Acts of the Apostles, she is described as a beloved member of the Christian community. She was known for her good works and acts of mercy, specifically by sewing clothes for the poor.

When she died, the widows of the community mourned her and sent urgently for the Leader of the Christians, St. Peter, who was in nearby Lydda. As evidence of her charity, they showed him the clothes Tabitha had made for them. Peter prayed for her, and she was brought back to life.

Tabitha did eventually pass on again at the house of Simon the tanner in Joppa. She was buried in what are now the gardens of an Orthodox Church in Jaffa, where her tomb can still be visited. Her feast day is October 25.

St. Tabitha, pray for us.