the crucified orator 704 fortunate, says: “Through his confession, the thief merited on the cross not only forgiveness, but he became a friend of Christ. He was sent to Heaven before others and was made a sharer in the kingdom. Through his confession he has been made companion in the martyrdom.”36 This thief taught us that penance unseals or rather conquers Heaven: He taught us to steal, to rob, and to snatch the immortal riches. And so, I conclude with Augustine: “For we know that it [i.e., this grace of complete pardon] was granted not only to him. For whenChrist the Lord graciously released such a guilty offender, He gave a pledge to the human race so that the absolution of one in despair might be the comfort and hope for all people and so that the personal gift might spread for the benefit of all.”37 THE THIRD WORD OF THE CRUCIFIED ORATOR “[H]e said to [H]is mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then [H]e said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” (Jn 19:26-27) The Most Clement Virgin Mary Is the Mother of Sinners. The Savior Entrusted Them to Her as Sons in the Person of John. I rejoice that to the most chaste John this happiness [was given], that to him, a virgin, our Lord, dying on the Cross, entrusted His Virgin Mother. At the same time, I greatly rejoice that all kinds of sinners were entrusted as sons to the same most loving Mother of 36 Cyprianus, serm. De passione Domini, in: CLCE, t. III, p. 459. 37 The source of this quote was not able to be found in the works of St. Augustine.
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