Octave of Easter - Western Churches

Western Churches

St. Thomas Sunday is so called because the Gospel reading always relates the story of "Doubting Thomas," in which Thomas the Apostle comes to believe in the Resurrection of Jesus only after being told by the resurrected Christ to place his finger in the nail marks and his hand in His side. In the Gospel accounts, this event takes place on the eighth day after the Resurrection, hence their significance for this Sunday (John 20:19-29).

The name "Low Sunday" is sometimes said to derive from its relative unimportance compared to the solemnities of Easter Day. Traditionally, the newly-baptised would receive baptismal gowns that would be worn until this day, and the official Latin name is Dominica in Albis , "Sunday in White Garments". Hence "White" and "Alb" Sunday—which is also the etymology of Whitsunday (Pentecost). Those who had been baptized at Easter now receive their first communion and then laid aside the white robes which they had worn throughout the week. Long before the Reformation, confirmation was observed on this Sunday in Germany.