The Good Thief, also known as Saint Dismas

By Msgr. Jean Joseph Gaume

The compelling story of a notorious criminal who became a great Saint.  The account is drawn from the masterful work of Msgr. Jean Joseph Gaume, Story of the Good Thief, dedicated to the 19^th century.  Briefly mentioned in the Gospel, this unique fact, “more beautiful to contemplate than the creation of the world”, is generally very little explored.  Msgr. Gaume relates it to us with an admirable unction that leaves no heart unmoved.  Two elements, judiciously combined, produced this miracle: the grace of God in the fullness of its power and the rapidity of its action; the cooperation of man in the whole intensity of his love.

Table of Contents
(128 pages)

Introduction – 7

Encounter in the desert – 10

Birth and name of the Good Thief – 17

Life of the Good Thief – 24

Prelude to the execution – 28

The torments – 33

The conversion of the Good Thief – 38

Causes of his conversion – 43

Magnificence of his conversion – 48

Faith of the Good Thief – 58

Hope of the Good Thief – 65

Charity of the Good Thief – 71

Immense confidence, without presumption – 78

Imitators of the Good Thief – 84

Devotion to the Good Thief – 96

Power of the Good Thief – 102

Copy of Jesus Crucified – 103

Advocate of the Son of God – 105

Preacher of the Divinity of Jesus – 109

Companion of the Sorrows of Mary – 112

Figure of all the elect – 114

Excerpts from the Book of Merciful Love – 121