25 March: Feast of St. Dismas – The Good Thief
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Today should be Lady Day, the Feast of the Annunciation, the instant of the Incarnation.
Because today is Good Friday, Lady Day is transferred.
However, 25 March is also the Feast of the Good Thief, St. Dismas!
Could there be a more appropriate coincidence?
Luke 23:39-43:
And one of those robbers who were hanged, [Gesmas] blasphemed him, saying: If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other [Dismas] answering, rebuked him, saying: Neither dost thou fear God, seeing thou art condemned under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this man hath done no evil. And he said to Jesus: Lord, remember me when thou shalt come into thy kingdom. And Jesus said to him: Amen I say to thee, this day thou shalt be with me in paradise.
It makes the heart ache, to read these words addressed to this penitent sinner.
Holy Church has the Lord’s own authority to forgive sins, to loose and to bind!
It is exercised by His bishops and priests!
