- December 3, 2023
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Thomas, also called Didymus according to the Gospels, is most famous for his episode of doubt upon hearing of the Resurrection. His repentant confession of faith upon seeing the Risen Lord and His Holy Wounds, “My Lord and my God”, is the indulgenced prayer recommended to Catholics for silent internal recitation upon beholding the Real Presence themselves at Holy Mass. After Pentecost, Thomas preached the Gospel throughout the Middle East and eventually India, and received his crown of martyrdom after being run through with lances at the order of an idolatrous king. Ancient tradition holds that Thomas baptized the Magi during his travels in the East, and several of the Eastern Catholic Churches trace their history and liturgical rites directly back to St. Thomas’s mission and his successors. Dom Prosper Gueranger recommends asking for the fitting intercession of St. Thomas in this last week of Advent, to increase our faith in the coming of Our Lord as a poor, humble Infant, and to decrease our human tendency to doubt. In the modern calendar, as well as some others, St. Thomas is honored on July 3rd.
AT Calamina, the birthday of the blessed apostle Thomas, who preached the Gospel to the Parthians, the Medes, the Persians and Hyrcanians. Having finally penetrated into India, and instructed those nations in the Christian religion, he died transpierced with lances by order of the king. His remains were first taken to the city of Edessa and then to Ortona.
In Tuscany, the holy martyrs John and Festus.
In Lycia, St. Themistocles, martyr, who under the emperor Decius, offered himself in the place of St. Dioscorus, who was sought after to be killed, and being racked, dragged about and beaten with rods, obtained the crown of martyrdom.
At Nicomedia, during the persecution of Diocletian, St. Glycerius, a priest, who was subjected to many torments, and finally completed his martyrdom by being cast into the flames.
At Antioch, St. Anastasius, bishop and martyr, who was cruelly murdered by the Jews during the reign of Phocas.
At Treves, St. Severin, bishop and confessor.
℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
℟. Thanks be to God.
