At one of the most tragic moments of the Crucifixion, one of the thieves noticed that the man dying beside him was the Son of God.
‘Lord, remember me when You are in Heaven’, said the thief.
‘In truth, today you shall be with me in Heaven’, answered Jesus, turning a bandit into the first saint of the Catholic Church: Saint Dimas.
We don’t know why Dimas was condemned to death. The Bible tells us that he confessed his guilt and that he was crucified for the crimes he had committed.
Let us suppose that he did something cruel, awful enough to end his life in that fashion; yet, even so, in his final minutes of life, he was redeemed – and glorified – by an act of faith.
Remember this example when for some reason you feel unable to continue on your path. It is never too late.
‘Lord, remember me when You are in Heaven’, said the thief.
‘In truth, today you shall be with me in Heaven’, answered Jesus, turning a bandit into the first saint of the Catholic Church: Saint Dimas.
We don’t know why Dimas was condemned to death. The Bible tells us that he confessed his guilt and that he was crucified for the crimes he had committed.
Let us suppose that he did something cruel, awful enough to end his life in that fashion; yet, even so, in his final minutes of life, he was redeemed – and glorified – by an act of faith.
Remember this example when for some reason you feel unable to continue on your path. It is never too late.
Written by Paulo Coelho on 6 October 2014
note:
The Catholic Church never formally canonized Saint Dismas, though he is regarded as a saint by virtue of Jesus saying, "you will be with me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43), and by local church traditions. The feast of St. Dismas is on the 25th of March, shared with the feast of The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
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