His was not the frivolous skepticism of indifference of hostility to truth; he wanted knowledge in order to have faith.  Thomas’ doubts arose, for the most part, from his despondency and from the depressing influence of sorrow and isolation; for he was a man apart from his fellows.  Sometimes a man who misses a meeting misses much.  If the minutes of the first meeting were written they would have contained the tragic words of the Gospel: “Thomas was not there.”  The rebuking words of Our Lord to Thomas – to be doubting no longer – also contained an exhortation to belief and to shake off his gloom, which was his besetting sin.” Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen (Life Of Christ)