Online Edition – April 2007
Vol. XIII, No. 2
The Incredulity of Saint Thomas
The Incredulity of Saint Thomas
by Caravaggio (Michelangelo Merisi) 1571-1610
(Oil on canvas, 1601-2 – Sanssouci, Potsdam)
Ut intellexit Didymus
quia surrexerat Iesus,
remansit fere dubius.
Vide Thoma, vide latus,
vide pedes, vide manus,
noli esse incredulus.
Quando Thomas vidit Christum,
pedes, manus, latus suum,
dixit: Tu es Deus meus. Alleluia.
Beati qui non viderunt
et firmiter crediderunt;
vitam aeternam habebunt. Alleluia.
In hoc festo sanctissimo
sit laus et iubilatio:
Benedicamus Domino. Alleluia.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Allelluia
***
When Thomas first the tidings heard,
How they had seen the risen Lord,
He doubted the disciples’ word.
“My pierced side, O Thomas, see:
My hands, my feet, I show to thee:
Not faithless, but believing be.”
No longer Thomas then denied,
He saw the feet, the hands, the side:
“Thou art my Lord and God,” he cried. Alleluia.
How blest are they who have not seen,
And yet whose faith has constant been,
For they eternal life shall win. Alleluia.
On this most Holy Day of days,
To God your hearts and voices raise,
In laud and jubilee and praise. Alleluia!
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
— from O Filii et Filiae (Ye sons and daughters of the Lord), Trans. John Mason Neale (Adoremus Hymnal 412)
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