- Prayer and Worship - Beliefs and Teachings - Issues and Action
- Catholic Giving - About USCCB The Book of Tobit, named after
its principal character, combines Jewish piety and morality with
folklore in a fascinating story that has enjoyed wide popularity
in both Jewish and Christian circles. Prayers, psalms, and words
of wisdom, as well as the skillfully constructed story itself,
provide valuable insights into the faith and the religious
milieu of its unknown author. The book was probably written
early in the second century B.C.; it is not known where. Tobit,
a devout and wealthy Israelite living among the captives
deported to Nineveh from the Northern Kingdom of Israel in
722/721 B.C., suffers severe reverses and is finally blinded.
Because of his misfortunes he begs the Lord to let him die. But
recalling the large sum he had formerly deposited in far-off
Media, he sends his son Tobiah there to bring back the money. In
Media, at this same time, a young woman, Sarah, also prays for
death, because she has l