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St. Theodore of Tabenna
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Saints and feasts
St. Theodore of Tabenna
Abbot of Tabenna, Confessor
Theodore of Tabenna was a disciple of Pachomius who helped guide the monasteries of Egypt. Butler remembers his humility, care for the monks and cooperation with Orsisius.
The reading
ⓘ Butler source
Alban Butler, The Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and Other Principal Saints, Volume XII (December), Thomas Richardson and Son, Derby, for the Catholic Book Society, 1846; December 28, “St Theodorus, Abbot of Tabenna, Confessor,” pp. 436-441.
Theodore entered the religious life while young and became a disciple of St. Pachomius at Tabenna in Egypt. Butler recalls his earnestness in prayer, obedience and the discipline of a shared monastic life. Pachomius entrusted him with responsibilities in the community and its visitations.
His formation also included the loss of office and a period among the lowest ranks of the community. Butler presents his willing acceptance of that humiliation as a clearer witness to virtue than the honour of governing. When he later undertook leadership again, his concern was to heal division and restore charity among the monks.
Theodore worked closely with Orsisius, taking counsel with him and caring for individual monks with patience. At his death he commended the community to Orsisius. Butler records a letter of comfort from Athanasius and distinguishes the Roman December 28 commemoration from the Greek observance on May 16.
Historical note
An original Novena Regina reading adapted and summarized from the cited pre-1962 source. This is not a transcription of Butler’s words.
This Theodore, a disciple of Pachomius, is distinct from Theodore Graptus, Theodore the Studite and Theodore Tyro. Butler gives December 28 in the Roman Martyrology, May 16 in the Greek calendar and April 27 as his reported death date. Orsisius’s separate June 15 commemoration is not assigned to Theodore.
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