ST. THOMAS, APOSTLE.

FEAST DAY:  JULY 3RD

[The image at the right shows Saint Thomas examining the nail and the wound the nail caused to the hand of Jesus, when Christ appeared to his apostles after rising from the dead.]

SAINT THOMAS was one of the fishermen on the Lake of Galilee whom our Lord called to be His Apostles. By nature slow to believe, too apt to see difficulties, and to look at the dark side of things, he had withal a most sympathetic, loving, and courageous heart. Once when Jesus spoke of the mansions in His Father's house, St. Thomas, in his simplicity, asked : "Lord, we know not whither Thou goest, and how can we know the way ?"  When Jesus turned to go toward Bethany to the grave of Lazarus, the desponding Apostle at once feared the worst for, his beloved Lord, yet cried out bravely to the rest : "Let us also go and die with Him." After the Resurrection, incredulity again prevailed, and whilst the wounds of the crucifixion were imprinted vividly on his affectionate mind, he would not credit the report that Christ had indeed risen. But at the actual sight of the pierced hands and side, and the gentle rebuke of his Saviour, unbelief was gone forever; and his faith and ours has ever triumphed in the joyous utterance into which he broke: "My Lord and my God !"

REFLECTION. ---Cast away all disquieting doubts, and learn to triumph over old weaknesses as St. Thomas did, who "by his ignorance hath instructed the ignorant, and by his incredulity hath served for the faith of all ages."

INTERCESSORY PRAYER:  Today, ask Saint Thomas to intercede for an increase of faith in our lives.

SCRIPTURE:  John 20: 24-29

"24  Now Thomas, one of the twelve, who is called Didymus, was  not with them when Jesus came.
25  The other disciples therefore said to him:  We have seen  the Lord.  But he said to them:  Except I shall see in his  hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will  not believe.
26  And after eight days again his disciples were within, and  Thomas with them.  Jesus cometh, the doors being shut, and  stood in the midst, and said:  Peace be to you.
27  Then he saith to Thomas:  Put in thy finger hither, and see my hands; and bring hither thy hand, and put it into  my side; and be not faithless, but believing.
28  Thomas answered, and said to him:  My Lord, and my God.
29  Jesus saith to him:  Because thou hast seen me, Thomas,  thou hast believed:  blessed are they that have not seen, and have believed."

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INTERCESSORY PRAYER:  Ask Saint Thomas to pray for your needs and to increase your faith in God.

MORE ON SAINT THOMAS THE APOSTLE FROM BUTLER'S LIVES OF THE SAINTS

SPIRITUAL DIRECTION FOR TODAY

PART II: THE PERFECT DEVOTION TO OUR LADY

CHAPTER SEVEN PARTICULAR PRACTICES OF THIS DEVOTION

6. Praying the Magnificat

255. To thank God for the graces he has given to our Lady, her consecrated ones will frequently say the Magnificat, following the example of Blessed Marie d'Oignies and several other saints. The Magnificat is the only prayer we have which was composed by our Lady, or rather, composed by Jesus in her, for it was he who spoke through her lips. It is the greatest offering of praise that God ever received under the law of grace. On the one hand, it is the most humble hymn of thanksgiving and, on the other, it is the most sublime and exalted. Contained in it are mysteries so great and so hidden that even the angels do not understand them. Gerson, a pious and learned scholar, spent the greater part of his life writing tracts full of erudition and love on the most profound subjects. Even so, it was with apprehension that he undertook towards the end of his life to write a commentary on the Magnificat which was the crowning point of all his works. In a large volume on the subject he says many wonderful things about this beautiful and divine canticle. Among other things he tells us that Mary herself frequently recited it, especially at thanksgiving after Holy Communion. The learned Benzonius, in his commentary on the Magnificat, cites several miracles worked through the power of this prayer. The devils, he declare, take to flight when they hear these words, "He puts forth his arm in strength and scatters the proud-hearted".

7. Contempt of the world

256. Mary's faithful servants despise this corrupted world. They should hate and shun its allurements, and follow the exercises of the contempt of the world which we have given in the first part of this treatise.

2. Special interior practices for those who wish to be perfect

257. The exterior practices of this devotion which I have just dealt with should be observed as far as one's circumstances and state of life permit. They should not be omitted through negligence or deliberate disregard. In addition to them, here are some very sanctifying interior practices for those souls who feel called by the Holy Spirit to a high degree of perfection. They may be expressed in four words, doing everything through Mary, with Mary, in Mary, and for Mary, in order to do it more perfectly through Jesus, with Jesus, in Jesus, and for Jesus.

Through Mary

258. We must do everything through Mary, that is, we must obey her always and be led in all things by her spirit, which is the Holy Spirit of God. "Those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God," says St. Paul. Those who are led by the spirit of Mary are children of Mary, and, consequently children of God, as we have already shown. Among the many servants of Mary only those who are truly and faithfully devoted to her are led by her spirit. I have said that the spirit of Mary is the spirit of God because she was never led by her own spirit,, but always by the spirit of God, who made himself master of her to such an extent that he became her very spirit. That is why St. Ambrose says, "May the soul of Mary be in each one of us to glorify the Lord. May the spirit of Mary be in each one of us to rejoice in God." Happy is the man who follows the example of the good Jesuit Brother Rodriguez, who died a holy death, because he will be completely possessed and governed by the spirit of Mary, a spirit which is gentle yet strong, zealous yet prudent, humble yet courageous, pure yet fruitful.

259. The person who wishes to be led by this spirit of Mary: 1) Should renounce his own spirit, his own views and his own will before doing anything, for example, before making meditation, celebrating or attending Mass, before Communion. For the darkness of our own spirit and the evil tendencies of our own will and actions, good as they may seem to us, would hinder the holy spirit of Mary were we to follow them. 2) We should give ourselves up to the spirit of Mary to be moved and directed as she wishes. We should place and leave ourselves in her virginal hands, like a tool in the hands of a craftsman or a lute in the hands of a good musician. We should cast ourselves into her like a stone thrown into the sea. This is done easily and quickly by a mere thought, a slight movement of the will or just a few words as, "I renounce myself and give myself to you, my dear Mother." And even if we do not experience any emotional fervour in this spiritual encounter it is none the less real. It is just as if a person with equal sincerity were to say - which God forbid! - "I give myself to the devil." Even though this were said without feeling any emotion, he would no less really belong to the devil. 3) From time to time during an action and after it, we should renew this same act of offering and of union. The more we do so, the quicker we shall grow in holiness and the sooner we shall reach union with Christ, which necessarily follows upon union with Mary, since the spirit of Mary is the spirit of Jesus.

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PRAYER TO SAVE THE LIVES OF UNBORN CHILDREN

Christian prolifers who have spent time counseling in front of abortion clinics have often observed the power of prayer to save the lives of unborn children.  God pours out special graces to save the lives of unborn children when His followers petition Heaven to redirect women away from having abortions.  Your prayers today can save a life.  Prayers said to the Virgin Mary can prevent abortion from taking place. 

    According to a recent news story from the Associated Press a record number of babies were born in the United States in 2007.  A total of  4,315,000 children were born in 2007. That's about 15,000 more births than the peak time of the baby boom in 1957. These figures were recorded by the National Center for Health Statistics which compiled the data from provisional birth certificate registrations at state health departments.

 During each day, offer up three Hail Mary's several times each day asking the Blessed Mother to redirect women throughout the world away from the abortion clinics and toward giving birth to their children.  If you want to say rosaries  each day to save unborn children; this is also recommended.

Say Three Hail Mary's now to protect the lives of unborn children:

Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with Thee.  Blessed art Thou amongst women and Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.  Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.  Amen!

Then ask the Blessed Mother, "Please save today, the lives of unborn children."