St. Thomas was a Jew by birth and was chosen to be one of the Twelve Apostles. Although his exact dates of birth and death are uncertain, July 3 is observed as his feast day. He lived before the formal formation of the Catholic Church.

He was a devoted yet impatient disciple of Christ. Thomas urged the other Apostles to go with Jesus when He announced that He was going back to Judea to visit His ailing friend, Lazarus, even though doing so would put them at risk and maybe put them in danger of dying due to the authorities' growing animosity.

When Christ told His disciples at the Last Supper that He was going to prepare a place for them to which they could also come because they knew both the place and the way, Thomas pleaded that they did not understand and received the beautiful assurance that Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

The role St. Thomas played in confirming the Resurrection of his Master is what makes him most famous. Thomas received the moniker "Doubting Thomas" because he refused to accept that the other Apostles had seen their risen Lord on the first Easter Sunday.

Eight days later, during Christ's second appearance, Thomas was gently corrected for his skepticism and given the proof he had demanded—seeing the nail's point in Christ's hands. Thomas even put his hand into Christ's side and his fingers into the nail holes. After confirming the authenticity of the wounds, St. Thomas was persuaded of the truth of the Resurrection and cried out, "My Lord and My God," making a public Profession of Faith in Jesus' divinity.

Also recounted is St. Thomas' attendance at another Resurrection appearance of Jesus at Lake Tiberias, where a miracle fish catch took place.

From the New Testament, this is all that is known about St. Thomas. According to tradition, this saint was dispatched to evangelize the Parthians, Medes, and Persians during the scattering of the Apostles following Pentecost. He eventually made it to India, spreading the Faith to the Malabar coast, where there are still many native people who identify as "Christians of St. Thomas."

Tradition has it that Thomas was accidentally slain when a fowler shot at a peacock and hit Thomas instead. After his passing, some of his relics were sent to Edessa, while the remainder were maintained in what is now India. San Thome Basilica in Chennai, Mylapore, India, still houses them.

The relics that had been transferred to Edessa were transported to Italy in 1258, where they can be found at Ortona's Cathedral of St. Thomas the Apostle. On the Greek Island of Patmos, Saint Thomas' skull is thought to be interred at the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian.

Saint Thomas is frequently portrayed in artwork as a young man holding a scroll or as a young adult touching the wounds of the crucified Christ. St. Thomas is the patron saint of architects, theologians, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

Other Saints of the Day
Saint Anatolius
Saint Byblig
Saint Eulogius and Companions
Saint Philip Minh
Saint Hyacinth of Caesarea