St. Dismas, also known as the Good Thief, is considered a saint by the Catholic Church. He is often invoked as a patron of those who are condemned to death or seeking redemption. The St. Dismas Prayers are powerful prayers that seek the intercession of this saint to obtain mercy, forgiveness, and salvation. The prayers ask for St. Dismas’s help in turning away from sin and finding redemption.
They acknowledge the humility and faith of this thief who, at the last moment of his life, recognized and repented of his sins, and turned to Jesus for salvation. The St. Dismas Prayers are reminders of the power of forgiveness, even in the darkest moments of our lives. They are prayers of hope and trust in God’s mercy, encouraging us to follow the example of St. Dismas by turning to Jesus with a contrite heart and seeking his forgiveness and salvation.
Historical Context
Saint: Dismas (The Good Thief)
Feast Day: March 25
Patronage: Prisoners, reformed thieves, condemned people
Era: 1st Century AD
St. Dismas Prayer 1
My Crucified Jesus,
Wash me with your most Precious Blood.
Look upon me as the good thief,
who hung on the cross next to You at Calvary.
A sinner, paying for his crimes,
but recognizes your divinity and begs for mercy and forgiveness
and asks: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom”
Dear Lord, look upon me like the Good Thief.
And I should be so lucky, full of Peace.
Amen.
Best Times for This Prayer:
St. Dismas Prayer 2
Saint Dismas,
You alone were Canonized a Saint by Christ Himself;
you were assured of a place in Heaven with Him,
“This day” because you confessed your sins to Him on Calvary;
and you were truly sorry for them
as you hung beside Him on a cross;
you who opened the Heart of Jesus in mercy and forgiveness
even before the centurion’s spear tore it asunder;
you whose face was close to that of Jesus in His last agony,
to offer Him a word of comfort;
you who knew how to pray,
teach me the words to say to gain pardon for my sins;
and you who are close to Him now in Heaven,
pray to Him for me that I shall never again desert Him,
but that at the close of my life I may hear the words
He addressed to you:
“This day thou shalt be with Me in Paradise.”
Amen.
