His life
+ According to ancient tradition, Luke was born in Syria and was a physician.
+ A companion of Saint Paul the Apostle, he was in Rome with Paul at the time of his
martyrdom. It is said that after Paul’s death, Luke traveled to Greece where he wrote his gospel
and the Acts of the Apostles.
+ In his writings, Saint Luke presents a Christian community of equals where all things are held
in common and shows us a Jesus who is a friend of sinners and outcasts (cf. Acts 2:42-44).
+ Saint Luke is believed to have died of natural causes around the year 84.
+ Honored as the patron of doctors and pharmacists, he is also celebrated as a patron of artists
because of an ancient tradition that he painted the first icon of the Madonna and Child.
For prayer and reflection:
“He carefully traced the whole story from the beginning and wrote his gospel,—so that we might
understand the truth of the teaching we had received.”—from The Liturgy of the Hours,
responsory from the Office of Readings for the Feast of St. Luke the Evangelist
Spiritual bonus
On this day we also remember Saint Brothen and Saint Gwendolen. Nothing more than the
names of these medieval Welsh saints has come down to us. Saint Brothen is the patron saint of
Llanbrothen in Merionethshire. Gwendolen (or Gwen) has long been associated with
Dolwyddelen and Llanwyddelan in Montgomeryshire.
Prayer
Lord God, who chose Saint Luke
to reveal by his preaching and writings
the mystery of your love for the poor,
grant that those who already glory in your name
may persevere as one heart and one soul
and that all nations may merit to see your salvation.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
(from The Roman Missal)
Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.
And today we celebrate...