St. Thomas
Born: unknown
Died: c.72
Canonized: pre-Congregation
Feast Day: July 3
Patron Saint of: architects
Thomas, the apostle, is better known as "Doubting Thomas" and is also known as Didymus, the Twin, and the Apostle of India. Little is known about Thomas before he became an apostle of Jesus Christ. He's most notable, of course, for refusing to accept that Jesus had risen from the dead until after he had touched His crucifixion wounds for himself. When Jesus did appear to Thomas, He commanded Thomas to touch the wounds and to be an unbeliever no more. After doing so, Thomas cried out "My Lord and my God." To which Jesus replied, "Thomas, because you have seen me you believe. Blessed are they who have not seen and have believed."
With the power of the Holy Spirit, Thomas set out to spread the Good News. His journeys took him to India. There, he was paid to erect a monumental palace. Thomas promptly took the money and spent it on the poor, justifying his actions by declaring that aiding the poor will do more to build sound foundations for the future than will any palace. Thomas was later martyred by a spear in Madras, India.
