Deepertruth: The Faith And Call Of The Apostle St. Thomas

The Faith And Call Of The Apostle St. Thomas 7/3/2023   Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe."

St. John writes of this encounter, "Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe (John 20:26-29)."

St. Thomas was transported to Jerusalem from India to witness the Assumption. In a reversal, it was the other Apostles who doubted St. Thomas word that Mary Assumed into Heaven and dropped her girdle. St. Thomas is often depicted in art with Mary's girdle.

It was about 52 A.D. that St. Thomas traveled to India establishing churches and bringing many conversions into the Catholic faith.

He was bringing the Light where people had been living in darkness.