Saint Thomas the Apostle: life, teaching, prayer

He said to Thomas: "Put your finger here and look at my hands; put your hand in my side, stop being unbelieving and become a man of faith". Thomas replied, "My Lord and my God". Jesus said to him: "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen, but have believed" (John, 20, 24-29).

Thomas, also called Didymus, which means "twin" in Aramaic and Greek, was one of Christ's twelve apostles. He is the symbol of religious unbelief, having doubted the Lord's resurrection.

He appears rarely, if at all, in the Gospels ofSt. Luke , St. Matthew  and  St. Mark . St. John , on the other hand, describes his personality in several of the Gospels. He's fiery, generous, dedicated, critical and a man of great faith. He was ready to die a martyr's death with Jesus: "Thomas, called Didymus (i.e. Twin), said to the other disciples, 'Let us also go and die with him '" John, 11, 16.

Saint Thomas, then, was not only the great unbeliever that history has remembered. Above all, he was the first to say, after placing his hands in Christ's side, "My Lord and my God". He thus confessed the truth of Jesus' humanity and the truth of his divinity.

Depending on the calendar, Saint Thomas is celebrated on December 21 or July 3.

Saint Thomas, evangelizer and martyr

Saint Thomas is credited with the evangelization of the entire Middle East: present-day Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and South India (where he is considered the founder of the Indian Church). Christians in this part of the world still define themselves as the "sons of Saint Thomas". From 37, he founded churches in northern Persia and Pakistan. Between 42 and 49, the apostle criss-crossed the roads, visited every village, and went to meet distant populations to spread the love of Christ and teach the Good News. From 52 to 63, he founded seven churches in the Indian states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, and in Sri Lanka (then called Taprobane). As a result of his preaching, the Chaldean (in present-day Iraq) and Syro-Malabar (in south-west India) churches were founded.

According to legend, Saint Thomas the Apostle died as a martyr in India in 72, shot in the back with a spear while praying. He is often depicted with this weapon. His tomb is said to be in the Basilica of Saint Thomas in Chennai, India.

"Saint Thomas is a wonderful companion of Christ who helps us to live our vocation as disciples" Cardinal de Barbarin.

The Gospel of Thomas, an apocryphal writing

The Gospel of Saint Thomas, a writing not recognized by the Church, had completely disappeared after it was set aside in the 4th century. It only reappeared in the 20th century in Nag Hammadi, Upper Egypt, found by chance by shepherds, along with a dozen other documents.

This text is sometimes considered to be the fifth gospel, and may have been written in the 1st or 2nd century.

Excerpt from his Gospel

This is the complete text of the Gospel of Thomas, translated by Jean-Marie Sevrin (doctor and master of theology).

"These are the hidden words which the living Jesus spoke and which the Twin, Jude Thomas, wrote.

• Logion 1. 
• He said: He who finds the interpretation of these words will not taste death. 
• Logion 2. 
   1) Jesus said: He who seeks, let him not cease seeking until he finds;
   2) when he has found, he will be troubled;
   3) troubled, he will be astonished and he will reign over the All. 
• Logion 3. 
   1) Jesus said: If those who guide you say to you: Behold, the Kingdom is in heaven, then the birds of the air will go before you.
   2) If they say to you: It is in the sea, then the fish will go before you;
   3) but the Kingdom is within you and it is without you.
   4) When you know yourselves, you will be known and you will know that you are sons of the living Father;
   5) but if you do not know yourselves, then you are in poverty and you are poverty. 
• Logion 4. 
   1) Jesus said: A man of many days will not hesitate to ask a seven-day-old child about the place of life, and he will live;
   2) for many who are first will be last, and they will become one. 
• Logion 5. 
   1) Jesus said, Know what is before your face, and what is hidden from you will be revealed to you,
   2) for nothing is hidden that should not be made manifest." 

"Believe like Saint Thomas"

Saint Thomas doubted, he didn't believe that Christ had risen. Does this mean he had a problem trusting Jesus? Certainly not.

Doubting is part of being human, constantly questioning things. In fact, every Christian has certainly experienced an episode of doubt in his or her faith. Jesus didn't blame Saint Thomas for his unbelief, just as He certainly doesn't blame us. On the contrary, He teaches us not to see and seek God with our eyes, but with our hearts. Saint Thomas saw the wounds and believed it was Jesus. But he didn't stop at the dead and risen man. His heart believed and knew it was God standing before him. Like Saint Thomas, we must let our hearts believe, we must give them entirely to Jesus, without seeing or needing proof.

Sothe Patron Saint of the Blind invites us to close our eyes to see Christ and to believe.

"Then Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see might see, and those who do see might become blind.”" (John 9:39).

Praying to Saint Thomas the Apostle to strengthen our faith

• O Lord, I ask your forgiveness for all the times I have been unbelieving and not allowed your mighty hand to rule my life.

Forgive me for having been arrogant and self-sufficient.

Now, through the example of St. Thomas, I place myself at your feet and cry out with all my love and devotion: 

"My Lord and my God!"

Saint Thomas, pray for me, now and always.

Amen. 

• Glorious apostle Saint Thomas

Who, after doubting the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ

obtained the grace to touch with your hands the most sacred wounds of the body of our Lord Jesus Christ

Who then said to you: "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed".

I humbly ask you for the grace to obtain from the Lord's mercy the light for my spirit, the help I need at this time.

Protect me and inspire me, Saint Thomas, apostle and martyr.

Through the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

So be it.

• Protector of my life, faithful friend Saint Thomas,

help me to believe more and more in God's wonderful promise of love for me.

The Gospel tells us that you recognized the Risen Lord when you touched the wounds opened by the nails and spear.

Grant us the grace to perceive the real presence of Jesus on our path.

Illuminate us with the wisdom of heaven to identify and prefer the works of goodness.

Teach us to be good disciples of the Lord and to bear the cross of every day with our eyes turned to Jesus the Savior.

Remove our unbelief so that we may be true worshippers.

With your help and example,

We promise to be at the feet of the Most High and to bless Him always,

speaking the same words you have spoken.

When you recognized Christ: 

"My Lord and my God"

Amen

• O glorious Saint Thomas,

your sadness and grief at Jesus' absence were so great

that you didn't believe He had risen from the dead, and that you and you alone were the only one to have touched His wounds.

But your love for Jesus was just as great, and you gave your life for him.

He loved you in a special way, for he returned so that you and you alone could touch him, dear servant Saint Thomas.

Ask him to set aside our fears and the forgiveness of our sins, which cause Christ's sufferings.

Help us to use our strength in Your service, so that the title of blessed may be extended to all those who believe in Him without having seen Him.

Amen

With Hozana pray to Saint Thomas!

Pray to Saint Thomas with Hozana and strengthen your faith ! Open your hearts and believe without seeing!