Effata
Effata ( Hephata , Hephatha , from Aramaic hephatach , "Open yourself!") Is a saying of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark (7: 31-37):
“Jesus left the area of Tire again and came via Sidon to the Sea of Galilee , in the middle of the area of the Decapolis . They brought a man who was deaf and mute to Jesus and asked him to touch him. He took him aside, away from the crowd, put his fingers in his ears, and then touched the man's tongue with saliva ; then he looked up at the sky , sighed and said to the deaf and mute: Effata !, that means: Open yourself! Immediately his ears opened, his tongue was freed from its bondage and he could speak properly. Jesus forbade them to tell anyone about it. But the more he forbade them, the more they made it known. Beside themselves with astonishment they said: He has done everything well; he makes the deaf hear and the mute speak. "
Catholic reception
During baptism , as it is celebrated in the Roman Catholic rite , among other things , the celebrant touches the ears and mouth of the newly baptized and speaks "Effata!" To make it clear that he should hear the word of God and profess his faith (so-called Effata rite).
For this reason, some associations of deaf Catholics in Germany incorporate Epheta in their association names. The monthly newspaper, published by the Association of Catholic Deaf Germany (VKGD), also bears the same name.
Evangelical reception
Based on the Luther formulation, certain deacon institutions are called:
- Hephata (Schwalmstadt) , Diakoniezentrum in Schwalmstadt-Treysa
- Hephata (Mönchengladbach) , Evangelical Foundation in Mönchengladbach
as well as church building: