# Saint Dismas

An episode of [Saints Alive Podcast](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1598392451), 3 Apr 2026, 17 min.

Audio: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1882754/episodes/18956110-saint-dismas.mp3

"Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom" On this Good Friday, come listen to the story of the saint we call to mind on this Holy Day every year. Though we know very little about the life of Saint Dismas, his conversion on the cross has moved hearts for 2,000 years. Come enter in to the story of the good thief like you've never heard it before. Parental Guidance: Though much of this story is imagined, it has intense elements involving the crucifixion and death of Our Lord and the wayward life of a thief. Please screen at your discretion for little listeners. Saints Alive is brought to you by the #1 Catholic Prayer App, Hallow! Sign up today with a 30-day free trial! Please rate, review and share with friends and family! Find out more about Saints Alive at our website: https://www.saintsalivepodcast.com/

## Transcript

[0:14] SPEAKER_03: Today, we will hear the story of the courageous saint we called a mind on Good Friday.
[0:21] SPEAKER_03: Though we know very little about Saint Ismas' life, and most of this story is imagined, we know that he was good.
[0:30] SPEAKER_03: And we imagine his tale started something like this.
[0:37] SPEAKER_04: Father, the hour has come.
[0:43] SPEAKER_04: Jesus.
[0:44] SPEAKER_04: Remember me when you're coming to your kingdom.
[0:48] SPEAKER_04: Amen.
[0:49] SPEAKER_04: I say to you, today, you will be with me in paradise.
[1:02] SPEAKER_03: The man and child crept through the night's stillness, disturbing neither silence nor shadows.
[1:08] SPEAKER_03: Suddenly, the man stopped.
[1:11] SPEAKER_03: He raised his hand, gesturing for the boy to remain quiet as he greedily eyed the small hut.
[1:17] SPEAKER_03: The caved in roof was recently patched and repaired.
[1:21] SPEAKER_03: Whoever was staying here had just arrived.
[1:24] SPEAKER_03: And they were not staying long.
[1:26] SPEAKER_03: They were in a hurry.
[1:29] SPEAKER_03: The boy watched the man intently.
[1:32] SPEAKER_03: In the dim moonlight, he could just make out a grin on his ragged face.
[1:36] SPEAKER_03: A face creased and worn by a lifetime of hurt and hate.
[1:40] SPEAKER_03: He was watching for his signal for the next move.
[1:44] SPEAKER_03: At this point in their raids, his heart always beat like a drum in his chest.
[1:48] SPEAKER_03: But his head remained calm, his ears alert.
[1:53] SPEAKER_03: Maybe that was why he was so good at this life.
[1:57] SPEAKER_03: The only life he ever knew.
[2:08] SPEAKER_01: There they are.
[2:10] SPEAKER_01: Where?
[2:16] SPEAKER_01: Beyond the fig trees.
[2:18] SPEAKER_07: I see now.
[2:19] SPEAKER_07: Just a man and his wife.
[2:21] SPEAKER_07: What could they possibly have?
[2:24] SPEAKER_01: They had strange visitors back in Bethlehem.
[2:27] SPEAKER_01: Which guests they were on horses.
[2:30] SPEAKER_01: Brought them treasures of some kind.
[2:33] SPEAKER_07: Treasures?
[2:34] SPEAKER_07: Why are they staying here?
[2:35] SPEAKER_07: Off the road.
[2:37] SPEAKER_07: Well nowhere.
[2:39] SPEAKER_01: My guess is they heard about Herod's orders to kill the firstborn sons in Bethlehem.
[2:44] SPEAKER_07: They have a boy with them?
[2:45] SPEAKER_01: It doesn't matter, don't worry about the boy.
[2:48] SPEAKER_01: Focus on the treasure.
[2:50] SPEAKER_01: We will wait for them here until their campfire burns low.
[2:54] SPEAKER_01: Then we can be sure they are asleep.
[2:56] SPEAKER_07: Where are the treasures?
[2:58] SPEAKER_01: It must be in those packs next to the donkey.
[3:01] SPEAKER_01: If you get caught, don't look for me.
[3:04] SPEAKER_01: I am not sticking around.
[3:05] SPEAKER_01: You're on your own.
[3:06] SPEAKER_01: If anybody asks you don't belong to me, you don't belong to anyone.
[3:10] SPEAKER_01: Understand?
[3:11] SPEAKER_07: I understand.
[3:19] SPEAKER_03: When the night cooled and the campfire burned to smoldering embers, the boy cautiously made his way through the darkness.
[3:27] SPEAKER_03: By instinct, he avoided the moonlight and attended to each soft footfall, careful not to pierce the silence.
[3:36] SPEAKER_03: He came to the packs lined up near the sleeping donkey.
[3:40] SPEAKER_03: Hands shaking, loosened the drawstring.
[3:43] SPEAKER_03: A sweet, fruity aroma wafted up from inside.
[3:48] SPEAKER_07: What could this be?
[3:50] SPEAKER_03: He removed what looked like a small yellow raisin.
[3:54] SPEAKER_03: Disappointed, he dropped it back in the pack and continued it the second.
[3:58] SPEAKER_03: Again, he reached inside and removed a clump, reddish, waxy.
[4:04] SPEAKER_03: As he moved it in his fingers, it fell like sand to the ground.
[4:08] SPEAKER_03: It too had a strange fragrance, smoky, spicy, reminding him somehow of a funeral he had seen once before.
[4:16] SPEAKER_06: Strange.
[4:18] SPEAKER_03: Impatient, he reached into the last pack, grasping something hard, cold, and round.
[4:25] SPEAKER_03: His eyes grew wide.
[4:27] SPEAKER_06: Clients?
[4:30] SPEAKER_06: Cold.
[4:32] SPEAKER_03: Suddenly, the boy heard footsteps drawing closer.
[4:35] SPEAKER_03: He turned to run when he felt a strong, steady hand touch his shoulder.
[4:40] SPEAKER_03: Hello, child.
[4:41] SPEAKER_03: What is it you're looking for?
[4:45] SPEAKER_07: Oh, um, uh I I I uh um I uh The voy fell back in surprise.
[4:51] SPEAKER_03: A tall man stood over him, a dark hulk against a starry sky.
[4:58] SPEAKER_02: I was just Are you are you looking for someone?
[5:04] SPEAKER_02: Come here, child.
[5:05] SPEAKER_02: Let me help you up.
[5:07] SPEAKER_02: What's that what's that in your hand?
[5:09] SPEAKER_07: Uh um, a coin?
[5:11] SPEAKER_07: I uh found a coin.
[5:13] SPEAKER_02: Ah.
[5:14] SPEAKER_02: I'm gonna have to take that back.
[5:16] SPEAKER_02: It doesn't belong to me.
[5:18] SPEAKER_07: It doesn't?
[5:20] SPEAKER_07: And who does it belong to?
[5:22] SPEAKER_02: It belongs to my son.
[5:25] SPEAKER_02: It was uh given to him by friends who traveled a great distance to meet him.
[5:31] SPEAKER_07: What is gonna happen to me?
[5:33] SPEAKER_07: Are you gonna hurt me?
[5:34] SPEAKER_02: No, son.
[5:36] SPEAKER_02: I'm not going to hurt a hair on your head.
[5:38] SPEAKER_02: Everything's gonna be alright.
[5:40] SPEAKER_02: I'm Joseph, and who might you be?
[5:44] SPEAKER_07: I I I can't.
[5:46] SPEAKER_07: My father told me to never tell strangers who.
[5:51] SPEAKER_07: He's gonna be very angry with me.
[5:54] SPEAKER_02: Why will he be angry?
[5:55] SPEAKER_07: When I come back to him empty-handed.
[5:59] SPEAKER_02: So you're from a family of thieves?
[6:03] SPEAKER_07: That's all we know.
[6:04] SPEAKER_07: It's all I'm good at.
[6:07] SPEAKER_05: Joseph?
[6:08] SPEAKER_07: Who is it?
[6:09] SPEAKER_02: A young boy, a nice young boy here for a visit.
[6:12] SPEAKER_05: Is everything okay?
[6:14] SPEAKER_05: Bring him in out of the cold.
[6:17] SPEAKER_02: Well, come inside.
[6:18] SPEAKER_02: There is someone here you must meet.
[6:25] SPEAKER_03: Joseph opened the door and welcomed the boy inside the small hut.
[6:31] SPEAKER_03: When he entered, a young lady was holding a lantern with a basket at her feet.
[6:36] SPEAKER_03: The lantern illuminated the small derelict room.
[6:41] SPEAKER_03: His eyes adjusted to the light, and he saw her clearly now.
[6:46] SPEAKER_03: All in this instant, his fear left him, as he breathed in the sweet smell of roses.
[6:54] SPEAKER_05: Who might this be?
[6:56] SPEAKER_05: Come in, love.
[6:57] SPEAKER_02: This is my wife, Mary.
[7:00] SPEAKER_02: You must meet our son.
[7:01] SPEAKER_02: He still fits in this basket, but not for much longer.
[7:06] SPEAKER_02: What's wrong, son?
[7:08] SPEAKER_02: What's the matter?
[7:12] SPEAKER_07: Nothing.
[7:13] SPEAKER_07: I I just don't think I should be here.
[7:18] SPEAKER_07: I I should go.
[7:19] SPEAKER_02: Please don't go.
[7:20] SPEAKER_02: You were drawn here for a reason.
[7:24] SPEAKER_07: Yes.
[7:25] SPEAKER_07: I came for a reason.
[7:27] SPEAKER_07: I came to steal your gold.
[7:30] SPEAKER_02: Do you still want the gold?
[7:34] SPEAKER_07: What?
[7:35] SPEAKER_07: I don't know anymore.
[7:41] SPEAKER_07: I saw who I was robbing.
[7:44] SPEAKER_07: But but he has done nothing wrong.
[7:48] SPEAKER_02: His name is Jesus.
[7:51] SPEAKER_02: He belongs to me, but in a strange way I found that I belong to him.
[7:58] SPEAKER_02: And you know what?
[8:00] SPEAKER_07: What?
[8:01] SPEAKER_02: I can see that you belong to him as well.
[8:05] SPEAKER_07: How?
[8:06] SPEAKER_07: How can a father belong to his baby?
[8:12] SPEAKER_02: These are questions that only he can answer.
[8:15] SPEAKER_02: He will reveal it to us in his time.
[8:17] SPEAKER_02: In the meantime, we must trust God and obey him.
[8:23] SPEAKER_03: Then the boy quietly gathered his courage to approach the small child.
[8:28] SPEAKER_03: He stood over Jesus, transfixed by his gaze.
[8:33] SPEAKER_03: After a time, he was brought back to himself by a soft hand on his shoulder.
[8:39] SPEAKER_05: Child, here's some bread.
[8:42] SPEAKER_05: It's not much, but it's all we have for now.
[8:45] SPEAKER_05: Thank you.
[8:47] SPEAKER_07: Joseph, can you please tell me more about your baby?
[8:53] SPEAKER_02: Well, for many centuries our prophets have told of God's coming to save his people.
[8:58] SPEAKER_02: Many expect he will come with unmistakable majesty and power.
[9:02] SPEAKER_02: But uh, it seems many of them will be surprised to find God so humble.
[9:08] SPEAKER_07: Well, I'm glad God is gentle.
[9:12] SPEAKER_07: You said his name is Jesus.
[9:15] SPEAKER_07: What does it mean?
[9:17] SPEAKER_02: It means God saves.
[9:21] SPEAKER_02: I had a feeling that God was drawing you here for a reason.
[9:25] SPEAKER_02: You may have meant to do harm, but God has brought good out of it.
[9:30] SPEAKER_05: But what do I do from here?
[9:33] SPEAKER_05: Just thank him.
[9:34] SPEAKER_05: Love him.
[9:35] SPEAKER_05: That's all he wants.
[9:37] SPEAKER_05: It is just you that he wants.
[9:40] SPEAKER_05: To give him yourself.
[9:42] SPEAKER_02: Our paths must part, but I know that he will look after you.
[9:47] SPEAKER_02: You said that stealing and robbing are all that you know, but now you know something more.
[9:53] SPEAKER_02: You know my son.
[9:56] SPEAKER_07: And I'm very glad of it, sir.
[9:59] SPEAKER_02: I am going to tell you something now that I want you to remember.
[10:05] SPEAKER_02: You're bad at stealing.
[10:08] SPEAKER_02: But you are good.
[10:11] SPEAKER_02: You are a good thief.
[10:15] SPEAKER_02: Now, before you go, tell me your name.
[10:22] SPEAKER_06: My name is Dismas.
[10:28] SPEAKER_02: Well, Dismas, you must remember, no matter the course of your life from this day, you can always turn back.
[10:37] SPEAKER_02: Keep turning back.
[10:39] SPEAKER_02: No matter how far down the dark path you may be, you belong to him now.
[10:44] SPEAKER_02: And he will find you on that path.
[10:47] SPEAKER_02: Just remember his name.
[10:50] SPEAKER_02: God saves.
[10:52] SPEAKER_02: He is the light, my boy.
[10:54] SPEAKER_02: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness will never overcome him.
[11:00] SPEAKER_07: Joseph?
[11:01] SPEAKER_02: Yes, Dismas.
[11:03] SPEAKER_06: I'll remember this.
[11:06] SPEAKER_06: Thank you.
[11:14] SPEAKER_03: Dismas wandered back into the darkness, roving through the dense brush down dirty labyrinthine alleyways, back to his old life.
[11:25] SPEAKER_03: As he grew with the years, so did the burden of his sins.
[11:43] SPEAKER_03: And Dismus fell back into the soft and subtle pool of sin.
[11:50] SPEAKER_00: You got the loot.
[11:52] SPEAKER_00: I got it.
[11:56] SPEAKER_00: I never saw it coming.
[12:00] SPEAKER_03: But every now and then, he would remember the baby, his lovely mother, and the words of Joseph that would return to him through the mists of time.
[12:16] SPEAKER_02: Keep turning back.
[12:18] SPEAKER_02: No matter how far down the dark path you may be, you belong to him now.
[12:25] SPEAKER_03: But the memory alone was not enough.
[12:29] SPEAKER_03: His strength was not enough to bear the weight of shame and to resist the pull of sin.
[12:36] SPEAKER_03: Finally, one night, the Romans, sick of the rampant thievery in the province, decided to make an example of him.
[12:44] SPEAKER_03: Once and for all.
[13:25] SPEAKER_03: Then he heard a voice from beside him.
[13:29] SPEAKER_00: Are you not the Messiah?
[13:32] SPEAKER_00: Save yourself and us.
[13:37] SPEAKER_03: Dismas opened his bleary, tear-streaked eyes, which fell upon a familiar, lovely lady kneeling on the ground.
[13:45] SPEAKER_03: He smelt roses.
[13:48] SPEAKER_03: His failing heart felt a swell of hope.
[13:53] SPEAKER_03: And he turned his head to the man hanging beside him.
[13:57] SPEAKER_03: Above this man are the words, Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.
[14:06] SPEAKER_02: Just remember his name.
[14:08] SPEAKER_02: God saves.
[14:11] SPEAKER_02: He is the light, my boy.
[14:13] SPEAKER_02: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness will never overcome him.
[14:25] SPEAKER_05: Jesus.
[14:31] SPEAKER_03: Dismas summoned all his energy for his final words in this life.
[14:36] SPEAKER_03: He spoke first to the other robber.
[14:40] SPEAKER_04: Do you not fear God?
[14:42] SPEAKER_04: We are punished justly, for we are getting what we deserve.
[14:47] SPEAKER_04: But this man has done nothing wrong.
[14:57] SPEAKER_04: Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.
[15:03] SPEAKER_03: Jesus raised his weary head and feebly opened his eyes.
[15:09] SPEAKER_03: Those eyes which Dismas had not seen for so many years.
[15:15] SPEAKER_03: He met his gaze with recognition, filling Dismas's soul with courage, contrition, and love.
[15:25] SPEAKER_04: Amen.
[15:26] SPEAKER_04: I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.
[16:23] SPEAKER_03: Despite a life of sin, despite turning away from him over and over, Jesus mercifully welcomed him into paradise when he repented.
[16:36] SPEAKER_03: No matter what challenges, struggles, or hardships you may be facing, no matter how far down the darkened path you may feel, know that just like the good thief, you belong to Christ.
[16:50] SPEAKER_03: And he died for you.
[16:53] SPEAKER_03: And that makes this day good.

Shows are listed from Apple Podcasts' charts and directory, and Podcast Index where it is used. Every show and episode belongs to its publisher and plays from the publisher's own feed; this site hosts none of them.