Back in my Anglican seminary days, we started a tradition of always eating Indian food (which we love!) on the feast of Saint Thomas – the Patron Saint and Apostle of India. For us Anglicans, the feast day of Saint Thomas fell on December 21. It was always a fun “pre-Christmas” tradition for us to have spicy Indian food on the evening of the first day of winter.

It became somewhat complicated when we became Catholic, because in the current Catholic Novus Ordo calendar (post-V2) has Saint Thomas’ feast day on July 3. Our little “pre-Christmas” tradition didn’t quite work so well liturgically. Nevertheless, we were reverse-recusants and we continued to eat Indian food on December 21 in memory of our old tradition.

However, I’m thrilled that in the old calendar (pre-V2), the feast of Saint Thomas is still December 21. Now that we’re at a Latin Mass parish, it was great to see the red vestments today and hear a solid homily on Saint Thomas as the patron of India.

So tonight we’re again eating Indian food for dinner: Tiki Masala, Lamb Kadai, Naan, Rice, etc. My mouth is still tingling and I’m loving it!

I even shared the story of Saint Thomas in India to the Indian waitress as I waited for my take-out to bring home.

Saint Thomas, Apostle of India, pray for us!