The repentant criminal crucified beside Jesus, promised Paradise for his final, sincere turn to Christ, as recorded in Luke’s Gospel.

Saint Dismas is the traditional name for the repentant criminal crucified alongside Jesus Christ, remembered above all for the exchange recorded in Luke’s Gospel (23:39–43): rebuking the other criminal for mocking Jesus, acknowledging his own guilt, and asking to be remembered in Christ’s kingdom, to which Jesus replied, “Today you will be with me in Paradise.” His veneration rests directly on this Gospel account, making him one of Scripture’s clearest images of mercy extended even in a final hour.

Quick Facts

• Died: 1st century (Jerusalem, present-day Israel)
• Venerated as: The Repentant Thief crucified with Christ
• Scriptural basis: Matthew 27:38; Mark 15:27–28,32; Luke 23:33; John 19:18

Who Was Saint Dismas, the Good Thief?

Saint Dismas is the traditional name given to the repentant criminal crucified alongside Jesus Christ at Calvary, remembered for his final words of faith recorded in Luke’s Gospel: acknowledging his own guilt, defending Christ’s innocence, and asking to be remembered when Jesus came into his kingdom.

Historical Setting

All four Gospels record that two criminals were crucified with Jesus, one on each side; only Luke preserves the exchange in which one of them rebukes the other for mocking Jesus and turns instead to ask for mercy, receiving the promise: “Today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43).

Why the Church Remembers Saint Dismas, the Good Thief

He is remembered as the clearest scriptural image of a deathbed conversion accepted by Christ himself, a man who did nothing to earn salvation by any worldly measure yet received it through a final, sincere turn of the heart.

Canonization and Feast Day

No formal canonisation process applies to Saint Dismas, whose veneration rests directly on the New Testament account itself and the Church’s ancient and universal liturgical memory of Christ’s own words to him.

What Catholics Can Learn Today

His story remains one of Scripture’s most direct assurances that no one is ever too late, or too far gone, to turn to Christ and be received with mercy.

A Prayer to Saint Dismas, the Good Thief

Saint Dismas, good thief who turned to Christ in your final hour and heard the promise of Paradise, pray for us, that we too may never despair of God’s mercy. Amen.

Sources

• Luke 23:39–43
• Butler’s Lives of the Saints