09/06/2026
Did you know that the only saint personally promised Heaven by Jesus Christ was a convicted criminal hanging on a cross?
His name was St. Dismas, the Good Thief.
As Jesus hung dying on the Cross, two criminals were crucified beside Him.
One mocked Him.
“If you are the Christ, save yourself and us!”
But the other thief saw something different. Though he saw Jesus beaten, bleeding, and crowned with thorns, he recognized what many others could not: this suffering man was truly a King.
Turning to the other criminal, he rebuked him:
"Do you not fear God? We are receiving the due reward of our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong." (Luke 23:40-41)
Then, with humility and faith, he turned to Jesus and made a simple request:
"Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." (Luke 23:42)
He had no chance to make up for his past. No opportunity to perform great acts of holiness. No time left to build a reputation for virtue.
Yet he did something extraordinary.
He believed.
In the darkest moment of his life, he placed his trust in Christ.
And Jesus gave him a promise unlike any other:
"Amen, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." (Luke 23:43)
With these words, the Good Thief—known to Christian tradition as St. Dismas—became the only saint personally promised Heaven by Jesus Himself.
His story is one of the greatest testimonies to Divine Mercy ever recorded.
St. Dismas reminds us that no sinner is beyond God's forgiveness. No past is too broken. No soul is too far gone. As long as there is sincere repentance and faith in Christ, there is hope.
His life teaches us never to despair of God's mercy and never to give up praying for those who seem far from Him.
One humble prayer changed his eternity:
"Jesus, remember me."
May we make that same prayer our own.
St. Dismas, the Good Thief, pray for us. 🙏✝️
