Saint Dismas The Good Thief

Prisoners
Undertakes
Poland
Dying People

We don't know very much about Saint Dismas, except to say that he was one of two convicted criminals, who were crucified alongside Jesus on Good Friday.

The other thief, which legend says was named Gestas, said to Jesus, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But Saint Dismas rebuked Gestas and told him that the punishments they received were just, because they were criminals. But Saint Dismas knew that Jesus was not a criminal.

Saint Luke recorded Saint Dismas’s humble words of faith when he implored Jesus saying, "Remember me when you come into your kingdom." Christ responded, promising that this Good Thief would be with Him in paradise that very day. Tradition honors Saint Dismas for the greatest "theft" of all: "stealing" his way into Paradise.

Saint Dismas is the patron saint of prisoners, prisons, and all who work in prisons, dying people, funeral directors and undertakers, reformed thieves, and the nation of Poland. Saint Dismas was given the gift of recognizing Jesus as the Messiah. Ask Saint Dismas to help you to recognize Jesus in the world around us and especially in the sacraments.