St. Dismas Coloring Page
This St. Dismas coloring page shows the Good Thief as Eastern icons picture him: carrying a cross on his shoulder toward the open gate of Paradise. The PDF is free to print. Dismas asked Jesus on the cross, "Remember me," and Jesus promised him Paradise.
The story of St. Dismas
When Jesus was crucified, he was not alone on the hill of Calvary. Two other men were put on crosses beside him, one on each side. They were thieves who had done bad things.
One of the thieves was angry. He made fun of Jesus and said, "Aren't you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!"
But the other thief stopped him. "Don't you fear God?" he said. "We did wrong, and we are being punished for it. But this man has done nothing wrong." Then he turned his head toward Jesus and said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
Jesus looked at him with love and answered, "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
What wonderful news! This man had made many bad choices in his life. But at the very end he was sorry, he trusted Jesus, and Jesus forgave him. The Gospel does not tell us his name, but an old Christian writing calls him Dismas. We call him the Good Thief.
St. Dismas shows us that it is never too late to say sorry to God. He is the patron saint of prisoners, and we can ask him to pray for anyone who has done wrong and needs to come back to God.
What to color
- Dismas's tunic: plain white or light brown, the simple clothes of a poor man.
- The cross: brown wood. In icons he carries it into Paradise like a key that opened the gate.
- His halo: gold, because he is a saint.
- The gate: gold or tan, wide open.
- The garden of Paradise: green trees, bright fruit and flowers in every color, a blue stream.
- The angel: white robes and any color wings.
- The sun: bright yellow, for the light of heaven.
A prayer to pray together
The best prayer to pray with St. Dismas is his own, from the Gospel of Luke (23:42). Say it slowly, again and again:
Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.
Then add, "St. Dismas, pray for us."
Ideas for families and classrooms
- Color this page during Lent or on Good Friday. The Roman Martyrology remembers the Good Thief on March 25.
- Before bedtime, think about your day, tell God you are sorry for anything wrong, and pray the Act of Contrition.
- Pray for people in prison and for their families.
- Talk about it: Jesus forgave Dismas right away. Is there someone you need to forgive, or say sorry to?
Read the full story: St. Dismas, the Good Thief in the encyclopedia.
Frequently asked questions
What colors should I use for St. Dismas?
Make his tunic plain white or light brown, the cross brown wood and his halo gold. Color the garden of Paradise bright: green trees, red and orange fruit, many-colored flowers, a blue stream and a yellow sun.
Why is St. Dismas carrying a cross?
Dismas was crucified next to Jesus. Russian and Greek icons show him carrying his cross into Paradise, because Jesus promised him, "Today you will be with me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43).
Is the name Dismas in the Bible?
No. St. Luke tells his story but does not give his name. The name Dismas comes from a later Christian writing called the Gospel of Nicodemus.
Is this coloring page free for schools?
Yes. Print as many copies as you need for your home, classroom or parish.