40th Day of Lent - Saint Dismas ✝️ Patron of the Imprisoned, Especially Those Who Recant and Repent
Celebrate Saint Dismas - The Good Thief
Today, April 16, 2022
Saint Dismas has a story that’s seldom told. Dismas was a thief who was crucified on the wooden cross next to Jesus. On one side of Jesus was Dismas and on the other was Gestas.
Our friend Terry Jones, the creator of CatholicSaints.Info writes that the day they were crucified was not the first day these three men encountered one another.
Jesus faced Dismas and Gestas and many other criminals on his way to Egypt. While Dismas was preparing to steal from Jesus, he experienced an Epiphany and recognized his wrongdoing. He quickly admonished the other thieves and thwarted their plans. They let Jesus and his troupe keep their belongings and proceed to Egypt.
Why Dismas was being crucified along with Jesus is a bit of a mystery. We do know that he rebuked Gestas and endeared himself to Jesus during the final hours, which was the Holy Saturday before Easter and the Resurrection.
Dismas repented and recanted. He “saw the light” and recognized his faults and regretted the things he had done and also those he had failed to do. Dismas is now widely known by his nickname, “The Good Thief.” Dismas may have been a common criminal, yet he is also known as the “FOJ,” a “Friend of Jesus” who stood by His side.
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