St. Thomas the Apostle

St. Thomas was a Jew, called to be one of the twelve Apostles. At the Last Supper, when Christ told His Apostles that He was going to prepare a place for them to which they also might come, because they knew both the place and the way, Thomas pleaded that they did not understand. He received the beautiful assurance that Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

St. Thomas is best known for his role in verifying the Resurrection of his Master. Thomas' unwillingness to believe that the other Apostles had seen their risen Lord on the first Easter Sunday merited for him the title of "doubting Thomas." Eight days later, on Christ's second apparition, Thomas was furnished with the evidence he had demanded, putting his fingers in the place of the nails and his hand into Christ's side. At this, St. Thomas became convinced of the truth of the Resurrection and exclaimed: "My Lord and My God," thus making a public profession of Faith in the Divinity of Jesus. St. Thomas is also mentioned as being present at another appearance of Jesus, at Lake Tiberias when a miraculous catch of fish occurred.

Tradition says that at the dispersal of the Apostles after Pentecost this Saint was sent to evangelize the Parthians, Medes, and Persians; he ultimately reached India, carrying the Faith to the Malabar coast, which still boasts a large native population calling themselves "Christians of St. Thomas." He capped his life by shedding his blood for his Master, speared to death at a place called Calamine.

St. Thomas is a patron of architects. His feast day is July 3rd.