St. Dismas, Advent and the Virtue of Hope
“Today you will be with me in Paradise.”
St. Dismas is the traditional name given to the Good Thief crucified at the right hand of Jesus—the one who turned to Christ in his final moments and prayed, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Scripture does not give his name, but Christian tradition does. The name Dismas is derived from the Greek word (dysme) meaning “sunset”. Symbolically, it reflects the “sunset” of his earthly life—his final hour—when he turned toward Christ and found salvation.
Advent is the season of longing—of waiting for a Savior who comes quietly, humbly, and unexpectedly. Few figures in Scripture understand this longing more deeply than St. Dismas, the Good Thief. Though we know nothing of the way Dismas lived his life, we know that his final days were not good. He was imprisoned, condemned, nothing to hope. However, his entire life leads to one final moment of clarity, when hope breaks through the darkness and he whispers the simplest prayer: “Remember me.”
Advent invites us into that same posture. Not polished. Not perfect. Just honest. He was at the lowest of lows, no light at the end of the tunnel. Yet, something becomes alive in the meeting with Christ who shares the same punishment.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that Hope is the theological virtue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ's promises and relying not on our own strength, but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit. (CCC 1817)
Dismas teaches us that hope is born not from strength but from need. Dismas is an example of the poverty that gives us “preferential treatment from God”. He looks at Jesus—bruised, rejected, dying—and somehow, he can see the awaited king. Advent asks us to do the same: to recognize Christ’s nearness even when He comes in ways we do not expect.
Jesus responds not with a vague reassurance but with a concrete promise: “Today you will be with me in Paradise.” This is the fulfillment of hope: not merely survival, not escape, but communion with Christ. The Catechism teaches that hope “keeps us from discouragement” and “opens our hearts to eternal beatitude” (CCC 1818). Dismas receives that beatitude directly from the mouth of Christ.
As we wait for the Lord this season, we can let Dismas guide our hearts by acknowledging our need for redemption and forgiveness, trusting that His mercy is stronger than our past and to pray with humility and boldness: “Lord, Remember me”.
And Jesus’ response to Dismas becomes His response to us in Advent: a promise of presence, a promise of paradise, a promise that salvation is nearer than we imagine.
May this season awaken in us the same courageous hope that burned in the heart of the Good Thief—a hope that looks at Christ and sees not defeat, but a Kingdom arriving.
Hope, O my soul, hope. You know neither the day nor the hour. Watch carefully, for everything passes quickly, even though your impatience makes doubtful what is certain, and turns a very short time into a long one. Dream that the more you struggle, the more you prove the love that you bear your God, and the more you will rejoice one day with your Beloved, in a happiness and rapture that can never end. [St. Teresa of Avila, Excl. 15:3]