Home | Join/Donate | Current Voices | Liturgical Calendar | What's New | Affirmation | James Hitchcock's Column | Church Documents | Search
Saint Luke, the Evangelist
Feast Day
October 18th
Lanceloot Blondeel
Saint Luke Painting the Virgin's Portrait
1545 -- Oil on canvas
Groeninge Museum, Bruges
Saint
Luke
, born of a pagan family,
was a convert to the faith. He was a companion of Saint Paul,
who called him "the beloved physician" (Col. 4:14),
and Luke's Gospel was written in accordance with Paul's preaching.
He accompanied the Apostle Paul on two of his missionary journeys,
and was with Paul in Rome when the Emperor Nero imprisoned Paul.
Luke also wrote the account of the early days of the Church,
Acts of the Apostles. According to tradition, Luke was
also an artist who painted the likeness of the Blessed Virgin
Mary. Tradition assigns Luke the emblem of the Ox, from Revelation
4:7, the description of the four winged creatures who are thought
to represent the Four Evangelists -- the others are Matthew (Man),
Mark (Lion), and John (Eagle). Collect Scripture
Readings First Reading: II
Timothy 4:10-17
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.
For Demas, in love with
this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica;
Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Luke alone is
with me. Get Mark and bring him with you; for he is very useful
in serving me. Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. When you come,
bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books,
and above all the parchments. Alexander the coppersmith did me
great harm; the Lord will requite him for his deeds. Beware of
him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message. At my first
defense no one took my part; all deserted me. May it not be charged
against them! But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength to
proclaim the message fully, that all the Gentiles might hear
it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth.
Gospel Reading: Luke 10:1-9
After this the Lord appointed
seventy others, and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into
every town and place where he himself was about to come. And
he said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers
are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers
into his harvest. Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs
in the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and
salute no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say,
'Peace be to this house!' And if a son of peace is there, your
peace shall rest upon him; but if not, it shall return to you.
And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide,
for the laborer deserves his wages; do not go from house to house.
Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set
before you; heal the sick in it and say to them, 'The kingdom
of God has come near to you.'
**Women for Faith &
Family operates
solely on your generous donations!
