St. Dismas, the Good Thief: Feast Day, Patronage & Prayers
Updated: Oct 3
Feast day: March 25 (commemorated in the Roman Martyrology; not on the General Roman Calendar)
Patron of: Prisoners, repentant sinners, and the dying.
About St. Dismas, the Good Thief
St. Dismas is the name tradition gives to the repentant criminal crucified beside Jesus. St. Luke's Gospel tells us that two criminals were crucified with the Lord, one on His right and one on His left. One of them mocked Jesus, but the other rebuked him: "Neither dost thou fear God, seeing thou art under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this man hath done no evil." Then he turned to Jesus and said, "Lord, remember me when thou shalt come into thy kingdom."
Jesus answered him with one of the most consoling promises in all of Scripture: "Amen I say to thee, this day thou shalt be with me in paradise." The name Dismas comes from an early apocryphal writing, the Gospel of Nicodemus, and is not found in the Bible. The Good Thief is sometimes called the only saint canonized by Christ Himself. Prisoners, those facing death, and anyone who fears it is too late to turn to God find hope in him, for his story shows that sincere repentance, even at the last hour, is met with mercy.
Prayers to St. Dismas, the Good Thief on Daily Catholic Prayers
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