Fr. Raymond J. de Souza: The 7 Last Words of Christ and the Nicene Creed: ‘Father, Forgive Them, for They Know Not What They Do’

By Father Raymond J. de Souza, National Catholic Register, April 13, 2025

Father Raymond J. de Souza is the founding editor of Convivium magazine.

Editor’s Note: For more than 20 years, Father Raymond de Souza has preached the Seven Last Words devotion, a traditional meditation on the seven times Jesus speaks from the Cross on Good Friday. Made famous in recent times by the Venerable Fulton J. Sheen, the meditations are usually organized around a particular theme. For 2025, Father de Souza chose the Nicene Creed as his theme, as the Catholic Church marks this year the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea. This first of seven meditations were preached at Holy Cross parish in Kemptville, Ontario, where Father de Souza is the pastor.

 “Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place which is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. And Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do’” (Luke 23:32-34).