December 21
NOM and VOM in briefThe Novus Ordo Missae (NOM) is the form of the mass that came out of the Second Vatican Council, celebrated in most parishes. The Vetus Ordo Missae (VOM) is the earlier form, in Latin, following the 1960 rubrics. The two calendars differ: on some days they celebrate different feasts.Learn more →
Liturgical colour : Red
2nd classSt Thomas the Apostle
Commemoration of the Feria of the Fourth Monday of Advent
Today is the feast of Saint Thomas the Apostle, one of the twelve whom Christ chose to be pillars of His Church. Known in the Gospels for his initial doubt of the Resurrection—earning him the title 'Doubting Thomas'—he also manifested vibrant faith when moved by the risen Lord’s presence, proclaiming, 'My Lord and my God!' Tradition holds that, after Pentecost, Thomas traveled far to spread the Gospel, with strong early Christian witness placing his missionary labors in Parthia, Persia, and most significantly India, where he is venerated as the founder of Christian communities. His faith journey is a profound testament to the journey from doubt to deep conviction, encouraging all Christians to seek and witness the Truth even amid uncertainty.
This feast is set in close proximity to Christmas, a deliberate placing in the liturgical calendar as the Church recalls the apostles and patriarchs who looked forward to the coming of the Messiah. The red vestments highlight his apostolic martyrdom, believed to have been by the sword or spear. Saint Thomas's witness encourages the faithful to trust deeply in Christ, especially when faith is tested, and calls all to missionary zeal in both word and deed. In venerating the apostle this day, the Church honors his confession and the fruitfulness of his work, especially among the ancient Christians of the East.
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The liturgical day
NOM and VOM in briefThe Novus Ordo Missae (NOM) is the form of the mass that came out of the Second Vatican Council, celebrated in most parishes. The Vetus Ordo Missae (VOM) is the earlier form, in Latin, following the 1960 rubrics. The two calendars differ: on some days they celebrate different feasts.Learn more →
IntroitPs 138:17
Latin
Ps 138:17
Mihi autem nimis honoráti sunt amíci tui, Deus: nimis confortátus est principátus eórum.
Ps 138:1-2.
Dómine, probásti me et cognovísti me: tu cognovísti sessiónem meam et resurrectiónem meam.
℣. Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
℟. Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, et in sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.
Mihi autem nimis honoráti sunt amíci tui, Deus: nimis confortátus est principátus eórum.
English
Ps 138:17
To me, Your friends, O God, are made exceedingly honorable; their principality is exceedingly strengthened.
Ps 138:1-2
O Lord, You have probed me and You know me; You know when I sit and when I stand.
℣. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
℟. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
To me, Your friends, O God, are made exceedingly honorable; their principality is exceedingly strengthened.
Collect
Latin
Orémus.
Da nobis, quǽsumus, Dómine, beáti Apóstoli tui Thomæ sollemnitátibus gloriári: ut eius semper et patrocíniis sublevémur; et fidem cóngrua devotióne sectémur.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
Orémus.
Commemoratio Feria II infra Hebdomadam IV Adventus
Excita, quǽsumus, Dómine, poténtiam tuam, et veni: et magna nobis virtúte succúrre; ut per auxílium grátiæ tuæ, quod nostra peccáta præpédiunt, indulgéntia tuæ propitiatiónis accéleret:
Qui vivis et regnas cum Deo Patre, in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
Da nobis, quǽsumus, Dómine, beáti Apóstoli tui Thomæ sollemnitátibus gloriári: ut eius semper et patrocíniis sublevémur; et fidem cóngrua devotióne sectémur.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
Orémus.
Commemoratio Feria II infra Hebdomadam IV Adventus
Excita, quǽsumus, Dómine, poténtiam tuam, et veni: et magna nobis virtúte succúrre; ut per auxílium grátiæ tuæ, quod nostra peccáta præpédiunt, indulgéntia tuæ propitiatiónis accéleret:
Qui vivis et regnas cum Deo Patre, in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
English
Let us pray.
O Lord, grant us, we beseech You, to glory in the feast-day of blessed Thomas, Your Apostle, that we may be helped continually by his patronage and imitate his faith with a devotion like his.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.
Let us pray.
Commemoration Monday in the Fourth Week of Advent
Put forth Your power, O Lord, we beseech You, and delay not: and with Your great might come to our aid, so that what is hindered by our sins may be hastened by Your merciful goodness.
Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen
O Lord, grant us, we beseech You, to glory in the feast-day of blessed Thomas, Your Apostle, that we may be helped continually by his patronage and imitate his faith with a devotion like his.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.
Let us pray.
Commemoration Monday in the Fourth Week of Advent
Put forth Your power, O Lord, we beseech You, and delay not: and with Your great might come to our aid, so that what is hindered by our sins may be hastened by Your merciful goodness.
Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen
LessonEph 2:19-22
Latin
Léctio Epístolæ beáti Pauli Apóstoli ad Ephésios.
Ephes 2:19-22
Fratres: Iam non estis hóspites et ádvenæ: sed estis cives sanctórum et doméstici Dei: superædificáti super fundaméntum Apostolórum et Prophetárum, ipso summo angulári lápide Christo Iesu: in quo omnis ædificátio constrúcta crescit in templum sanctum in Dómino, in quo et vos coædificámini in habitáculum Dei in Spíritu.
℟. Deo grátias.
English
Lesson from the letter of St. Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians
Eph 2:19-22
Brethren: You are now no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are citizens with the saints and members of God’s household: you are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone. In Him the whole structure is closely fitted together and grows into a temple holy in the Lord, in Him you too are being built together into a dwelling place for God in the Spirit.
℟. Thanks be to God.
GradualPs 138:17-18
Latin
Ps 138:17-18.
Nimis honoráti sunt amíci tui, Deus: nimis confortátus est principátus eórum.
℣. Dinumerábo eos, et super arénam multiplicabúntur. Allelúia, allelúia.
Ps 32:1
Gaudéte, iusti, in Dómino: rectos decet collaudátio. Allelúia.
English
Ps 138:17-18
Your friends, O God, are made exceedingly honorable: their principality is exceedingly strengthened.
℣. Were I to recount them, they would outnumber the sands. Alleluia, alleluia.
Ps 32:1
℣. Exult, you just, in the Lord; praise from the upright is fitting. Alleluia.
GospelIoann 20:24-29
Latin
Sequéntia + sancti Evangélii secúndum Ioánnem.
℟. Glória tibi, Dómine.
Ioann 20:24-29
In illo témpore: Thomas, unus ex duódecim, qui dícitur Dídymus, non erat cum eis, quando venit Iesus. Dixérunt ergo ei alii discípuli: Vídimus Dóminum. Ille autem dixit eis: Nisi videro in mánibus eius fixúram clavórum, et mittam dígitum meum in locum clavórum, et mittam manum meam in latus eius, non credam. Et post dies octo, íterum erant discípuli eius intus, et Thomas cum eis. Venit Iesus iánuis clausis, et stetit in médio, et dixit: Pax vobis. Deinde dicit Thomæ: Inter dígitum tuum huc, et vide manus meas, et affer manum tuam, et mitte in latus meum: et noli esse incrédulus, sed fidélis. Respóndit Thomas et dixit ei: Dóminus meus et Deus meus. Dixit ei Iesus: Quia vidisti me, Thoma, credidísti: beáti, qui non vidérunt, et credidérunt.
℟. Glória tibi, Dómine.
Ioann 20:24-29
In illo témpore: Thomas, unus ex duódecim, qui dícitur Dídymus, non erat cum eis, quando venit Iesus. Dixérunt ergo ei alii discípuli: Vídimus Dóminum. Ille autem dixit eis: Nisi videro in mánibus eius fixúram clavórum, et mittam dígitum meum in locum clavórum, et mittam manum meam in latus eius, non credam. Et post dies octo, íterum erant discípuli eius intus, et Thomas cum eis. Venit Iesus iánuis clausis, et stetit in médio, et dixit: Pax vobis. Deinde dicit Thomæ: Inter dígitum tuum huc, et vide manus meas, et affer manum tuam, et mitte in latus meum: et noli esse incrédulus, sed fidélis. Respóndit Thomas et dixit ei: Dóminus meus et Deus meus. Dixit ei Iesus: Quia vidisti me, Thoma, credidísti: beáti, qui non vidérunt, et credidérunt.
English
Continuation ✠ of the Holy Gospel according to John
℟. Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
John 20:24-29
At that time, Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, We have seen the Lord. But he said to them, Unless I 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. And after eight days, His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being closed, and stood in their midst, and said, Peace be to you! Then He said to Thomas, Bring here your finger, and see My hands; and bring here your hand, and put it into My side; and be not unbelieving, but believing. Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God! Jesus said to him, Because you have seen Me, Thomas, you have believed. Blessed are they who have not seen, and yet have believed.
℟. Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
John 20:24-29
At that time, Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, We have seen the Lord. But he said to them, Unless I 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. And after eight days, His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being closed, and stood in their midst, and said, Peace be to you! Then He said to Thomas, Bring here your finger, and see My hands; and bring here your hand, and put it into My side; and be not unbelieving, but believing. Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God! Jesus said to him, Because you have seen Me, Thomas, you have believed. Blessed are they who have not seen, and yet have believed.
OffertoryPs 18:5
Latin
Orémus.
Ps 18:5
In omnem terram exívit sonus eórum: et in fines orbis terræ verba eórum.
Ps 18:5
In omnem terram exívit sonus eórum: et in fines orbis terræ verba eórum.
English
Let us pray.
Ps 18:5
Through all the earth their voice resounds, and to the ends of the world, their message.
Ps 18:5
Through all the earth their voice resounds, and to the ends of the world, their message.
Secret
Latin
Débitum tibi, Dómine, nostræ réddimus servitútis, supplíciter exorántes: ut, suffrágiis beáti Thomæ Apóstoli, in nobis tua múnera tueáris, cuius honoránda confessióne laudis tibi hóstias immolámus.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
Commemoratio Feria II infra Hebdomadam IV Adventus
Sacrifíciis præséntibus, quǽsumus, Dómine, placátus inténde: ut et devotióni nostræ profíciant et salúti.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
Commemoratio Feria II infra Hebdomadam IV Adventus
Sacrifíciis præséntibus, quǽsumus, Dómine, placátus inténde: ut et devotióni nostræ profíciant et salúti.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
English
O Lord, we who dutifully worship You humbly entreat You that, by the prayers of Your blessed Apostle Thomas, in honor of whose martyrdom we offer these sacrifices of praise, You safeguard Your gifts within us.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.
Commemoration Monday in the Fourth Week of Advent
Look with favor, O Lord, we beseech You, upon the offerings here present, that they may be profitable for our devotion and for our salvation.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.
Commemoration Monday in the Fourth Week of Advent
Look with favor, O Lord, we beseech You, upon the offerings here present, that they may be profitable for our devotion and for our salvation.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.
CommunionJohn 20:27
Latin
Ioannes 20:27
Mitte manum tuam, et cognósce loca clavórum, allelúia: et noli esse incrédulus, sed fidélis, allelúia, allelúia.
English
John 20:27
Put in your hand and know the place of the nails, and be not unbelieving, but believing.
Post Communion
Latin
Orémus.
Adésto nobis, miséricors Deus: et, intercedénte pro nobis beáto Thoma Apóstolo, tua circa nos propitiátus dona custódi.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
Orémus.
Commemoratio Feria II infra Hebdomadam IV Adventus
Sumptis munéribus, quǽsumus, Dómine: ut, cum frequentatióne mystérii, crescat nostræ salútis efféctus.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
Adésto nobis, miséricors Deus: et, intercedénte pro nobis beáto Thoma Apóstolo, tua circa nos propitiátus dona custódi.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
Orémus.
Commemoratio Feria II infra Hebdomadam IV Adventus
Sumptis munéribus, quǽsumus, Dómine: ut, cum frequentatióne mystérii, crescat nostræ salútis efféctus.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
℟. Amen.
English
Let us pray.
Merciful God, abide with us, and through the intercession of Your blessed Apostle Thomas, mercifully safeguard the gifts You have given us.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.
Let us pray.
Commemoration Monday in the Fourth Week of Advent
Having received Your gifts, we beseech You, O Lord, that each partaking of this sacrament may increase within us its saving effect.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.
Merciful God, abide with us, and through the intercession of Your blessed Apostle Thomas, mercifully safeguard the gifts You have given us.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.
Let us pray.
Commemoration Monday in the Fourth Week of Advent
Having received Your gifts, we beseech You, O Lord, that each partaking of this sacrament may increase within us its saving effect.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.
Vetus Ordo texts: Divinum Officium