Saint Thomas, Apostle
July 3
Lives of the Saints
by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. edition
[1894]
—ST. THOMAS, Apostle.
- THOMAS was one of the fishermen on the Lake of A Galilee whom Our Lord called to be His apostles.
By nature slow to believe, too apt to see difficulties, and to look at the dark side of things, he had withal a most sympathetic, loving, and courageous heart.
Once when Jesus spoke of the mansions in His Father’s house, St. Thomas, in his simplicity, asked: “Lord, we know not whither Thou goest, and how can we know the way?”
When Jesus turned to go toward Bethany to the grave of Lazarus, the desponding apostle at once feared the worst for his beloved Lord, yet cried out bravely to the rest: “Let us also go and die with Him”
After the Resurrection, incredulity again prevailed, and whilst the wounds of the crucifixion were imprinted vividly on his affectionate mind, he would not credit the report that Christ had indeed risen. But at the actual sight of the pierced hands and side, and the gentle rebuke of his Savior, unbelief was gone forever; and his faith and ours has ever triumphed in the joyous utterance into which he broke: “My Lord and my God!”
Reflection.—Cast away all disquieting doubts, and learn to triumph over old weaknesses as St. Thomas did, who “by his ignorance hath instructed the ignorant, and by, his incredulity hath served for the faith of all ages.”
Saint Thomas, Apostle Feast Eph 2:19-22/Jn 20:24-29 (593) Pss Prop.
https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/saints/thomas-784
CATHOLICISM SAINTS ST. THOMAS
*The Incredulity of Saint Thomas – Guercino.
The doubting apostle Thomas, who must put his hands into the side of Our Lord in order to believe that the Savior is risen, is given this chance by Christ, with the words: “Blessed are they that have not seen, and have believed”. Artwork by Guercino.
**Thomas the Apostle (Aramaic: 𐡀𐡌𐡅𐡕𐡌, Biblical Hebrew: תוֹמא הקדוש or תוֹמָא שליחא (Toma HaKadosh Thomas the Holy or Toma Shlikha Thomas the Messenger/Apostle in Hebrew-Aramaic), Classical Syriac: ܬܐܘܡܐ, Tʾōmā, meaning “twin”; Koinē Greek: Θωμᾶς), also known as Didymus (“twin”), was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus according to the New Testament. Thomas is commonly known as “Doubting Thomas” because he initially doubted the resurrection of Jesus Christ when he was told of it (as is related in the Gospel of John alone); he later confessed his faith (“My Lord and my God”) on seeing the wounds left over from the crucifixion.
According to traditional accounts of the Saint Thomas Christians of modern-day Kerala in India, Thomas travelled outside the Roman Empire to preach the Gospel, travelling as far as the Tamilakam which is in South India, and reached Muziris of Tamilakam (modern-day North Paravur and Kodungalloor in Kerala State, India) in AD 52. In 1258, some of the relics were brought to Ortona, in Abruzzo, Italy, where they have been held in the Church of Saint Thomas the Apostle. He is regarded as the patron saint of India among its Christian adherents, and the Feast of Saint Thomas on July 3 is celebrated as Indian Christians’ Day. The name Thomas remains quite popular among the Saint Thomas Christians of the Indian subcontinent.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_the_Apostle
I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.
Phil 1:6, NRSV