Thursday, April 20 : Saint Thomas of Villanova

Thomas said: “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” What an astonishing hardness of heart on this disciple’s part: not even the witness of so many of the brethren nor even the sight of their joy were enough to give him faith. Yet the Lord appeared to take care of him. The good Shepherd does not allow the loss of his sheep (Mt 18:12) having said to his Father: “You gave them to me and none of them was lost” (Jn 17:6.12). Let the shepherds learn, then, what care they should show towards their sheep since the Lord came for a single one. Any care and labor are a small thing compared with the importance of one soul… “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” O blessed hand that penetrated the secrets of the heart of Christ! What riches did they not find in it? It was while resting on this heart that John drew out the mysteries of heaven (Jn 13:25), while penetrating it that Thomas found great treasures: what a wonderful school which forms such disciples! Thanks to it, the former expressed marvelous things higher than the stars concerning the divinity when he said: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (Jn 1:1). And the latter, touched by the light of Truth, cried out this sublime cry: “My Lord and my God!”

Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine) Daily Readings – rosary,team