MARY, OUR MOTHER

 

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #574

THE SEVEN LAST WORDS ON THE CROSS

I. The First Word

And Jesus said: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34)

THE FRUIT OF OUR LORD'S PRAYER was that the Jews were given a long reprieve (till the year 70), in which interval many thousands were converted to the Christian faith, and were saved. Only a few weeks later, on the Feast of Pentecost, three thousand were baptized, among whom were, no doubt, many of those who scoffed at Jesus on the Cross, and for whom He had therefore especially prayed.

  [From 'A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture' by Bishop Knecht, D.D.]
(1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)