St. Thomas the Apostle, July 3
Thomas refused to believe in the risen Jesus until he could touch his wounds, then made the strongest confession of faith in the Gospels: “My Lord and my God.” By tradition he preached in India, where the Saint Thomas Christians of Kerala trace their faith to him. He died a martyr there.
On the General Roman Calendar, July 3 is a feast: Saint Thomas, Apostle.
Name days on July 3
In countries that keep name days, July 3 is the day for people named Thomas, Tom, and Tommy. These names come from the same saint, as variants, nicknames or forms used in other languages.
| Name | Feast day |
|---|---|
| Thomas | July 3 |
| Tom | July 3 |
| Tommy | July 3 |
July 3 on the calendar
July 3 is the 184th day of the year (the 185th in a leap year), with 181 days left until December 31. Here is the day of the week it falls on in the coming years:
| Year | Day |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Friday |
| 2027 | Saturday |
| 2028 | Monday |
| 2029 | Tuesday |
| 2030 | Wednesday |
Keeping July 3
July 3 falls in summer. As a feast, it is kept by the whole Church with its own readings and the Gloria at Mass. Families who keep name days often mark the day with a card, a candle or a favorite meal, and parishes named after the saint may hold a festival. If you know someone named Thomas, Tom, and Tommy, it is a good day to send a note.
Saints of the week around July 3
| Date | Saint or feast |
|---|---|
| June 30 | First Martyrs of the Church of Rome |
| July 1 | St. Junípero Serra |
| July 2 | Sts. Processus and Martinian |
| July 4 | St. Elizabeth of Portugal |
| July 5 | St. Anthony Zaccaria |
| July 6 | St. Maria Goretti |
The day before, July 2, is the day of Sts. Processus and Martinian. The day after, July 4, belongs to St. Elizabeth of Portugal. Looking for a name? Try the name day calendar or go back to today’s saint.