Posted on 05/16/2015 7:42:40 AM PDT by Salvation
The Good Thief, The Catholic Answer
5/15/2015
Q. In St. Luke’s Gospel, there is mention of the Good Thief on the cross near Jesus who repents. No name is given him, but most say his name is “Dismas.” Is this true?
—B. Q., Philadelphia
A. Here’s a reply from Msgr. Charles Pope:
We don’t know. The story itself is very moving, and there is naturally a human tendency to want to know more. Thus traditions and legends often arise in cases like these. But the historical accuracy of such things is often difficult to assess. “St. Dismas” is a name that tradition supplies us in the Western Church.
Interesting though these traditions are, we sometimes miss the main point when biblical figures are not named. If you are prepared to accept it, you are the good thief who “steals heaven,” if you are willing to repent, take up your cross, be crucified with Jesus and persevere to the end, asking God’s mercy and admission to his kingdom.
The “good thief” was not so much good as he was smart. He knew he was a sinner, justly condemned, and that his only hope was grace and mercy. Having repented, he turns to Jesus and in faith seeks his salvation. Jesus says, “No one who comes to me will I ever reject” (Jn 6:37). Thus he is saved. Smart!
Msgr. Pope new column Ping!
I doubt that the government is the good thief.
Gubmint: More like the servant of Satan
"Social justice" = Socialism
Same thing.
We don’t know. The story itself is very moving, and there is naturally a human tendency to want to know more. Thus traditions and legends often arise in cases like these. But the historical accuracy of such things is often difficult to assess. “St. Dismas” is a name that tradition supplies us in the Western Church.
Interesting though these traditions are, we sometimes miss the main point when biblical figures are not named. If you are prepared to accept it, you are the good thief who “steals heaven,” if you are willing to repent, take up your cross, be crucified with Jesus and persevere to the end, asking God’s mercy and admission to his kingdom.
The “good thief” was not so much good as he was smart.
He knew he was a sinner, justly condemned, and that his only hope was grace and mercy. Having repented, he turns to Jesus and in faith seeks his salvation. Jesus says, “No one who comes to me will I ever reject” (Jn 6:37). Thus he is saved. Smart!
Not so much "smart" but brought to repentance by the Holy Spirit
Saved by Christ with no baptism and no works ... Faith alone
The priest is correct in that the Good Thief Repented.
Christ didn’t have a problem with it. Are you rebuking Christ?
Did he repent because he was "smart" or because the Holy Spirt led Him to repent ?
The point is that Christ forgave him and He was saved...not by baptism, not by works, but by faith in Christ alone
Yes, by Baptism: a Baptism of Blood or a Baptism of Desire.
Really it was both.
Please remove some of these mistaken thoughts from your mind and soul.
No such things Sal ..
According to you.
And this is a mistake in your thinking.
THE 3 TYPES OF BAPTISM
IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
Q. 1. How many types of Baptism is there in the Catholic Church?
A. 1. The Catholic Church teaches that there are three types of Baptism. They are Baptism by water, blood or desire:
1. The Sacrament of Baptism by water, either by sprinkling or by immersion, both being valid.
2. Baptism by Martyrdom, also called the "Baptism by blood," refers to the martyrdom of the believer who is killed for his/her faith before he/she had a chance to be baptized.
3. Baptism of Desire applies to those who wishing to be baptized, die before receiving the Sacrament. This desire may have been explicit (fully and clearly expressed) or implicit (implied but not directly expressed.)
If I had died while I was going through RCIA in 2008 my baptism would have been “Baptism of Desire”.
Correct. That happened with one of our RCIA members about three years ago, but our priest was able to baptize her, hear her Confession, give her the Last Rites and her First Holy Communion and Confirmation.
Five Sacraments in one day!
I had three in one day. Baptism, confirmation and holy communion.
None of which rituals could ever save her, versus repentant faith whereby God purifies the heart by faith, even the washing of regeneration before baptism as Peter testified, (Acts 10:43-47; 15:7-9) which is then confessed by baptism in identification with their Lord, and following Him.
Not only, but according to RC theology, the man (who also railed on Christ at first) must have achieved in a few hours or less the moral perfection of character which it seems may take centuries for others to attain, in order to become good enough (and atone for sins) to enter Heaven. Salvation thru grace by merit.
Chapter and verse that shows that God instituted these "things"?
What? Not there? Then it must be "Holy Tradition" right?
"Holy Tradition" = Wholly Man-Made Lies
So... who has mistaken thoughts.... one who finds the truth that there is no such thing as a "baptism of blood" or a "baptism of desire" in God's word, or the cultist that believes they exist because some magicsterium says it does?
Hoss
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