Saint Thomas the Apostle

Saint Thomas the Apostle

July 3, 2026WhiteFeast · Ordinary Time

Feast of Saint Thomas the Apostle

July 3

Saint Thomas, one of the Twelve Apostles, is often remembered for his doubt—but his story reveals a man of profound faith who traveled farther than any other apostle to spread the Gospel.

"Doubting Thomas"

Thomas earned his famous nickname after the Resurrection. When the other disciples told him they had seen the risen Lord, he declared:

"The other disciples therefore said to him, 'We have seen the Lord!' But he said to them, 'Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.'" — John 20:25

A week later, Jesus appeared again and invited Thomas to do exactly that. Thomas responded with the greatest confession of faith in the Gospels:

"My Lord and my God!" — John 20:28

Before the Doubt

Thomas appears several times in the Gospels before this famous incident, always showing courage and loyalty:

When Jesus announced he was going to Bethany after Lazarus died (dangerously close to Jerusalem where authorities sought to kill him), Thomas said to the other disciples:

"Thomas therefore, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, 'Let’s also go, that we may die with him.'" — John 11:16

At the Last Supper, when Jesus spoke of going to prepare a place, it was Thomas who asked honestly:

"Thomas said to him, 'Lord, we don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way?'" — John 14:5

This prompted Jesus' famous response: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life."

Apostle to India

Ancient tradition holds that Thomas traveled to India to preach the Gospel. The Mar Thoma Christians of South India trace their origins to his missionary work. According to tradition, he was martyred near Chennai (Madras), pierced with spears while praying.

The Thomas Christians represent one of the oldest Christian communities in the world, a testament to how far this "doubting" apostle carried his faith.

Thomas's Legacy

Thomas teaches us that:

  • Honest doubt can lead to deeper faith
  • Jesus meets us where we are
  • Faith leads to bold action
  • The Gospel reaches to the ends of the earth

His confession—"My Lord and my God!"—remains one of the clearest declarations of Christ's divinity in Scripture.