Wow! What perfect timing! I just spent two hours on the phone with my adult son who wants so much to believe but is also afraid to because of what he thinks God will ask of him. Despite how many witnesses, miracles and revelations each of us has to go through our own Thomas doubt. I love the donkey story 😊
Oh, I'm so glad the timing feels resonant! We really all do go through our Thomas times...I'm so thankful to have a saint like him to bring out our complicated humanity into the Christmas story this season. What a blessing it is that he your son has someone so thoughtful to talk to about all these struggles!
Wow- this was packed full of so much great information! So timely/interesting too because we are currently considering "Thomas" as a middle name for our son (due next year!) and I have been trying to learn more about him! <3
Beautiful writing, research and message (as always!) Besides Thomas, I always look forward to the feast of St. Lucia (my mother was Swedish and German) I think it’s so moving! Bringing the light into the darkness ✨💫
Thank you so much, Jolene! I LOVE St. Lucia's day - I first fell for that holiday with the American Girl doll books about Kirsten, but learning more about it, it's become so meaningful. I love that you have all those traditions!
Great post! My dear son is named after Thomas. I am looking forward to what else you have in store about this, as I’m still learning the traditions of this feast day and would like to incorporate them into my own life.
I'm so glad you enjoyed reading - and how wonderful that your sweet boy is named after Thomas! It's a really impactful holiday, and I'm excited to dip into it with you here. :)
Kristin, you are a modern day historian who never ceases to amaze me. This parallel betw. Thomas and the Winter Solstice gave me much to think about:
"When we encounter the layers of story & custom surrounding St. Thomas on his Winter Solstice feast day, we witness echoes everywhere: the longest night of the year has arrived, and, like the stages of disbelief endured in Thomas and in our own struggling hearts, that long night will be broken by a patiently lengthening sunlight."
Also......... n o w I know why there's a donkey in your watercoloring wonders. Delightful!
Oh dear Jody, I'm so glad you enjoyed!! It was too busy yesterday to get to sit & chat about Thomas & the solstice and all the good things, but we'll have to find a quiet moment together to do that sometime. I'm SO excited to be beginning your book today!
This is fascinating, Kristin! I never knew about St. Thomas's December feast. It's in July in our tradition. You explain really well here how the stories of St. Thomas fit well at the Solstice and leading up to Christmas. I think I'll add in Thomasmas to our Advent devotions this year. Fits well with a mental track I've been following on holding doubt and belief in tandem... Thanks, as always, for your research!
I'm so glad you enjoyed, Erin! It's a mental track I resonate with too (I imagine we all do)...I need to dig more into St. Thomas' day in July and how that looks, but I really connect with its Advent role.
So glad I finally made found the time to read this! Kristin, you've put together yet another strikingly beautiful and educational article. I love the notion of unseen work being done in the dark that will eventually be brought to the light, all the while being nourished and grown by God. Much like the doubting of St.Thomas. This was just lovely.
Kristin...I'm so behind in my Substack reading, I apologize for getting to this so late! It is a wonderful essay. I think it is my favorite essay of yours so far...and I am so delighted to learn about the donkeys.
There are a number of beliefs among the Pennsylvania Germans centered around talking barnyard animals at midnight on Christmas Eve and the unique individuals who are blessed w/ the ability to 'hear' and 'comprehend' them. Your essay has me digging into my books...I'm thinking this belief must absolutely stem from the story of a wild donkey who spoke! Love this so much.♡
I had substack “read” this to me on a long drive through such heavy fog I could barely see the trees alongside the highway. It felt oddly appropriate for kicking off advent - the world shrouding itself in silence. On another note, my husband likes to call Thomas “forensic Thomas” (he learned it from someone but I forget who) because of his inclinations toward seeking our empirical evidence. In another setting, such inclinations might be correct- it’s interesting food for thought how the proper rational response that we may have curated so carefully especially in this day and age of people muddying the waters of truth...can still hide the truth from us.
I didn't know substack could "read" things, but that feels like it could be transformational! I'm a late-adopter of podcasts, but have found that being able to "read" something while I'm folding laundry, cooking, driving, etc is such a boon.
Ooo...I like the forensic Thomas name (somehow this feels better than Doubting Thomas, doesn't it?) Pre-Enlightenment vs. Post-Enlightenment distinctions are SO fascinating to me in the religious context. And in our modern day, I feel like we tend to mis-apply our investigation methods...using empiricism or rationalism to try to solve ALL the questions, instead of allowing mystery to play a role.
Wow! What perfect timing! I just spent two hours on the phone with my adult son who wants so much to believe but is also afraid to because of what he thinks God will ask of him. Despite how many witnesses, miracles and revelations each of us has to go through our own Thomas doubt. I love the donkey story 😊
Oh, I'm so glad the timing feels resonant! We really all do go through our Thomas times...I'm so thankful to have a saint like him to bring out our complicated humanity into the Christmas story this season. What a blessing it is that he your son has someone so thoughtful to talk to about all these struggles!
Wow- this was packed full of so much great information! So timely/interesting too because we are currently considering "Thomas" as a middle name for our son (due next year!) and I have been trying to learn more about him! <3
I'm so glad you enjoyed - and what fun timing! Congrats on your sweet boy on the way!!
Thanks Kristin!
All new info to me looking forward to more! Any excuse to bring up talking donkeys count me in, though Balaam’s ass is the star of the show 🫏
Nothing like a salty donkey!
Hoping the potential flood next week doesn’t cause too much damage 🫣 !!
I'm here for all the salty donkeys! 🙋
Thanks so much...we're still not sure how the flood's going to play out yet, but we're getting ready to put all the animals up high today!
Beautiful writing, research and message (as always!) Besides Thomas, I always look forward to the feast of St. Lucia (my mother was Swedish and German) I think it’s so moving! Bringing the light into the darkness ✨💫
Thank you so much, Jolene! I LOVE St. Lucia's day - I first fell for that holiday with the American Girl doll books about Kirsten, but learning more about it, it's become so meaningful. I love that you have all those traditions!
There’s a Swedish neighborhood, (Andersonville), here in Chicago and they do the procession, it’s lovely. ✨
Great post! My dear son is named after Thomas. I am looking forward to what else you have in store about this, as I’m still learning the traditions of this feast day and would like to incorporate them into my own life.
I'm so glad you enjoyed reading - and how wonderful that your sweet boy is named after Thomas! It's a really impactful holiday, and I'm excited to dip into it with you here. :)
Kristin, you are a modern day historian who never ceases to amaze me. This parallel betw. Thomas and the Winter Solstice gave me much to think about:
"When we encounter the layers of story & custom surrounding St. Thomas on his Winter Solstice feast day, we witness echoes everywhere: the longest night of the year has arrived, and, like the stages of disbelief endured in Thomas and in our own struggling hearts, that long night will be broken by a patiently lengthening sunlight."
Also......... n o w I know why there's a donkey in your watercoloring wonders. Delightful!
This non liturgical church person thanks you.
Oh dear Jody, I'm so glad you enjoyed!! It was too busy yesterday to get to sit & chat about Thomas & the solstice and all the good things, but we'll have to find a quiet moment together to do that sometime. I'm SO excited to be beginning your book today!
This is fascinating, Kristin! I never knew about St. Thomas's December feast. It's in July in our tradition. You explain really well here how the stories of St. Thomas fit well at the Solstice and leading up to Christmas. I think I'll add in Thomasmas to our Advent devotions this year. Fits well with a mental track I've been following on holding doubt and belief in tandem... Thanks, as always, for your research!
I'm so glad you enjoyed, Erin! It's a mental track I resonate with too (I imagine we all do)...I need to dig more into St. Thomas' day in July and how that looks, but I really connect with its Advent role.
So glad I finally made found the time to read this! Kristin, you've put together yet another strikingly beautiful and educational article. I love the notion of unseen work being done in the dark that will eventually be brought to the light, all the while being nourished and grown by God. Much like the doubting of St.Thomas. This was just lovely.
Thank you so much, Daniel - it's been so illuminating for me to explore these holidays. I feel like it helps me learn more about my own faith!
Kristin...I'm so behind in my Substack reading, I apologize for getting to this so late! It is a wonderful essay. I think it is my favorite essay of yours so far...and I am so delighted to learn about the donkeys.
There are a number of beliefs among the Pennsylvania Germans centered around talking barnyard animals at midnight on Christmas Eve and the unique individuals who are blessed w/ the ability to 'hear' and 'comprehend' them. Your essay has me digging into my books...I'm thinking this belief must absolutely stem from the story of a wild donkey who spoke! Love this so much.♡
Oh gosh, I'm behind on everything, especially catching up here - please don't apologize, my friend!
Talking animals on Christmas Eve! How absolutely perfect.
I am your dirt metaphor target audience.
We're just on the cusp of Dirt MetaphorStack!
I had substack “read” this to me on a long drive through such heavy fog I could barely see the trees alongside the highway. It felt oddly appropriate for kicking off advent - the world shrouding itself in silence. On another note, my husband likes to call Thomas “forensic Thomas” (he learned it from someone but I forget who) because of his inclinations toward seeking our empirical evidence. In another setting, such inclinations might be correct- it’s interesting food for thought how the proper rational response that we may have curated so carefully especially in this day and age of people muddying the waters of truth...can still hide the truth from us.
I didn't know substack could "read" things, but that feels like it could be transformational! I'm a late-adopter of podcasts, but have found that being able to "read" something while I'm folding laundry, cooking, driving, etc is such a boon.
Ooo...I like the forensic Thomas name (somehow this feels better than Doubting Thomas, doesn't it?) Pre-Enlightenment vs. Post-Enlightenment distinctions are SO fascinating to me in the religious context. And in our modern day, I feel like we tend to mis-apply our investigation methods...using empiricism or rationalism to try to solve ALL the questions, instead of allowing mystery to play a role.
Thank you. I love learning these old stories and rhymes and your writing is just lovely.
Thank you so much, Melina - that's so kind of you! I'm thrilled you enjoyed reading :)
Thank you so much my friend!!
OHHH gosh I NEED this book!!