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March 25th is the supposed date of the Crucifixion. After listing the Annunciation, The Roman Martyrology in the second paragraph for this day says: "At Jerusalem, the commemoration of the good thief who confessed Christ on the cross, and who deserved to hear from him these words: 'This day shalt thou be with me in paradise'." Patrick Duffy writes what is known about him.
The Good Thief
The Christian tradition of Saint Dismas (or, more correctly, Dysmas) is based on the story of The Good Thief, as told in Luke 23:39-43. One of the criminals crucified with Jesus rebuked the other for mocking Jesus and then says: "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom". Jesus replied, "Amen, I say to you, today, you will be with me in Paradise".
Apocryphal gospels
The name is used in the narrative of this incident in the apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus (10.2). The word may be derived from a Greek word dusme meaning "sunset" or "death". An Arabic Gospel of the Infancy further embellishes the story by identifying the Good Thief with Titus, one of a band of robbers who captured the Holy Family during the flight into Egypt, but later released them.
Dismas's prayer in the liturgy
The prayer of Dismas, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom" have a prominent place in the Orthodox Liturgy of St John Chrysostom, where it is repeated three times as part of the Prayer before Communion. They also are used in a beautifuland popular Taizé chant that is often used as a recessional at Christian funerals.
Patron
In the Middle Ages Dismas came to be regarded as the patron saint of prisoners and thieves. His feast day is given in the Roman Martyrology. It is the supposed date of the crucifixion. In 1959 Fr Charles Dismas Clark SJ and attorney Morris Shenker founded Dismas House, a half-way house which offers ex-convicts a temporary home, counselling and help to find a job. Fr Clark's story was dramatised in the 1961 firm The Hodlum Priest. Today there are many Dismas Houses throughout the US. |
