The First Word: “Father, forgive them; they know not what they do.”

In this first meditation of our Lenten series on the Seven Last Words of Christ, Msgr. Fred Dolan reflects on Jesus’ prayer from the Cross: “Father, forgive them; they know not what they do.” These words, spoken amid suffering, awaken us to the reality of sin and the mercy Christ offers to us even in our blindness. This meditation invites us to approach Lent with seriousness and sincerity, asking for the grace of true contrition and a deeper awareness of God’s point of view. PAUSE & REFLECT How do I make efforts to seek out and accept the mercy of Our Lord through prayer and the sacrament of Penance? How can I deepen my appreciation of the redemptive value of my work—today and throughout the Lenten season? As I begin this season of Lent, what relationships in my life—family, work, or social—requires more effort on my part, particularly to better communicate?  LENT 2026 DEVOTIONAL  Download our free PDF devotional, The Seven Last Words of Christ: Reflections & Prayers from St. Josemaria Escriva, available in our online shop. View TranscriptVisit Show Page THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! If you enjoy our weekly meditations, please consider helping us keep the St. Josemaria Institute Podcast ad-free and accessible for all our listeners: Give today! Support the showTHANK YOU FOR LISTENING!Let us know that our podcast is important to you:Share your favorite episodes with others and leave us a rating or review.Stay connected with us on Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: www.stjosemaria.orgAlso, if you enjoy the podcast, please consider helping us keep our episodes free and accessible for all our listeners: Give today!