Dismas - The Penitent Thief: An Introduction
By Mark Thomas Jones
Mark For all the significance of the Crucifixion it comes as something of a surprise just how lacking in curiosity many Christians are in respect to the two thieves crucified eitherside of Jesus. The Canonical Gospels are not particulary forthcoming about them and yet we are told that the two ‘thieves’ responded in different ways to …
I have been endeavouring to discover why the thief who turned to Jesus Christ has received relatively scant attention in certain churches. To date it has been a fascinating journey that has seen me exploring what is known about a figure sometimes called Dismas or Saint Dismas, or alternatively known as the Penitent, Wise or …
Our disapproval of prisoners runs deep and across the globe there is precious little empathy, let alone sympathy, for those who for whatever reason have been incarcerated. Most of us have never visited prison and have no desire to do so, in point of fact we rarely give thought to prisoners, and if we do …
St. Dismas’s unique status as being the only person canonised by Jesus rather than by the Church has ensured that he is both remembered and revered around the world. His significance is such that churches continue to be built and dedicated to him, three recent examples are to be found in Brazil, Italy, and Russia. …
Read moreSaint Dismas still provides reasons to reflect and pray
When we take the time to stop, look, explore, and reflect on works of Christian devotional art it is possible to appreciate that they serve a range of purposes. For many they are a means to tell and reinforce elements of the Christian story. Central figures could be both a focus of attention and of …