St. Thomas The Apostle

The Apostle Thomas is sometimes called doubting Thomas, because he would not believe that Jesus had been resurrected when the other apostles told him they had seen the Lord. Thomas said "Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe" (John 20:25). Once Jesus appeared to him, Thomas responded in faith, "My Lord and my God." Jesus told him that he believed because he had seen, but that those who believed without seeing were more blessed. Other words of Thomas are recorded in the Gospel. He was brave enough to say "Let us go to die with Him," when Jesus returned to Galilee where the authorities were trying to kill Him. At the Last Supper, Thomas asked Jesus how the apostles would know the way to go after Him, because they did not know where He was going. Nothing else is know for historical certainty about St. Thomas, but an ancient tradition states that he preached in India, while another states that he preached in Edessa. Later legends added many fantasy elements to the story of Thomas. Like all of the Apostles, except St. John, Thomas gave his life for the Faith, but the exact location where this occurred is uncertain. His feast is July 3.