The saint I have chosen for the month if July is St. Thomas. St. Thomas was a Jew, called to be one of the twelve Apostles. In fact most of you probably already know a little about him. Thomas is best known for his role in the Resurrection. His unwillingness to believe that the other Apostles had seen their risen Lord on the first Easter Sunday earned him the title of “doubting Thomas.” a term which is still used today.
Eight days later, on Christ’s second apparition, Thomas was rebuked for his scepticism and furnished with the evidence he had demanded, seeing in Christ’s hands the point of the nails and putting his fingers in the place of the nails and his hand into His side. I actually love this story because we are taught to believe without proof but Thomas, like most humans, needed that proof. So Jesus provided him with it. I wonder if it was because Jesus had spent so long among humans, had those very human emotions that he provided Thomas with the proof he needed. That maybe somehow Jesus understood this.
St. Thomas’ feast day is July 3rd (today) and he is the patron of architects.
I live in a small Georgia town that you most likely have never heard of and I LOVE it! My house is more than full as I am a single mother of four & caregiver to my aging mother and uncle. Lover of all things Outlander. Goes to the beat of her own drum woman.
Tammy S says
I love that you are doing the St. of the month. I enjoy how you remind us why they are a saint and what they are the patron of. I love the Doubting Thomas part. Next time I use that with one of the kids I can tell them about St. Thomas and where the saying came from.
Rita says
I am so glad! There are so many different saints each month, there is one for each day and I just randomly choose one that I think everyone will relate to.
Natalie F says
I also like that you are featuring at St. of the month. I like the story for the same reason you did, the element of Thomas feeling the need for proof. Although, from a very young age I have had the sincere belief in Jesus and that the Bible is the truth. I’ve always wondered why I haven’t doubted, it wasn’t because my parents force it either, I just have had that strong belief.
Rita says
I am so glad that everyone is enjoying this new series. I wasn’t very sure of it at first. You are lucky that you haven’t doubted. I think some people just have that faith built in and nothing in this world can shake that faith in them. Those are the very people that become saints.
ginette4 says
I love you featuring a St. of the month…my father used this phrase every time that one of use needed to see to believe, whenever I hear that phrase I always think of my Dad. It’s not something that you hear every day.
Rita says
It is not something you hear everyday. Sometimes even Jesus knows that we need that proof and hands it to us without prejudice.
Denise Taylor-Dennis says
It is funny how doubting Thomas is still used today, it wasn’t until recently when I understood where the phrase came from. I have always been a believer and have never really had my doubts about Jesus. I can only describe it as a gift from God to believe the way I do.
Rita says
It is funny how it is still used today. You are very lucky, I used to have that sort of faith when I was younger. I believed without question or doubt but life has jaded me and I hate that.
Jean says
I guess I should be embarassed by my lack of Biblical knowledge, but I did not put St. Thomas and “doubting Thomas” together. He is a very relatable figure in the Bible though.
Rita says
Don’t be embarrassed, a lot of people don’t put the two together. He is related and that is one of the reasons I chose him for this month.