St. Luke the Apostle

St. Luke Biography

St. Luke the Apostle was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, according to the New Testament. He is best known as the author of the Gospel of Luke, which is one of the four canonical Gospels in the New Testament.

Very little is known about Luke’s early life, but it is believed that he was a Greek physician by profession and a native of the ancient city of Antioch. Luke is mentioned several times in the New Testament, but there is little information about his background.

Luke is first mentioned in the Book of Acts, where he is referred to as a “companion” of the apostle Paul. According to Acts, Luke joined Paul on his second missionary journey, which lasted from 49-52 AD. He is also said to have accompanied Paul on his subsequent journeys, including the journey to Rome, where Paul was held as a prisoner.

Luke is believed to have been a companion of Paul during his imprisonment in Rome, and it is possible that he was with Paul when he was executed in the year 64 or 67 AD. According to tradition, Luke was also martyred for his faith, but the details of his death are not recorded in the historical record.

Luke is the only Gentile (non-Jew) author of any of the books of the New Testament. His gospel is addressed to Theophilus and is written with a broader audience in mind, compared to the other synoptic gospel; with Luke’s gospel is written in a more polished Greek, unlike Matthew and Mark which are written in more colloquial form.

Luke is credited with writing both the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles, a continuation of the gospel which records the history of the early Christian church. The Gospel of Luke emphasizes the humanity of Jesus, and his compassion and love for all people, especially the marginalized and outcasts.

Luke is also known for his emphasis on the role of women in the life and ministry of Jesus, and is said to have been a close companion of Mary, the mother of Jesus. The Gospel of Luke is the only one to include the story of the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth, and the Magnificat, a hymn of Mary, in which she praises God for the salvation He brought through Jesus.

St. Luke is venerated as a saint by both the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Church, his feast day is celebrated on 18 October by Roman Catholic and on 11 October by Eastern Orthodox Church. His symbols are often an ox or a winged ox, reflecting that he is one of the four Evangelists in Christian tradition.

The Life of St. Luke the Apostle

Saint Luke was born at Antioch, Syria. He was a physician and a Gentile, skilled in the Greek tongue. After his conversion to Christianity, he became a follower of St. Paul, who calls him his “fellow laborer”, and “Luke, the be loved physician”.

St. Luke the Evangelist

St. Luke is the inspired writer of the Third Gospel and also of the Acts of the Apostles. He was instructed in the Christian Faith by the Apostle Paul, who had never been with Jesus in the flesh, but also by the other Apostles. Therefore, he wrote his Gospel from what he had heard; but he compiled the Acts of the Apostles what he had himself seen. He is the evangelist, poet, artist and cantor of the Holy Infancy of the Savior of Mankind

He accompanied St. Paul on his second and third missionary journeys, and when St. Paul was sent to Rome as a prisoner from Jerusalem in the year 61, St. Luke attended him and had the happiness of seeing him set free in the year 63, the year in which he finished writing his Acts of the Apostles. He continued with St. Paul after his release, and the great Apostle, during his last imprisonment wrote that his other friends had all left him and that only Luke was with him.

After the martyrdom of St. Paul, St. Luke is said to have preached in Italy, Gaul, Dalmatia and Macedon. He is venerated as a Martyr, and as having suffered near Achaia, in Greece. His relics were distributed among many churches, and St. Gregory is said to have brought the head of St. Luke from Constantinople to Rome, and to have deposited it in the church of his monastery of St. Andrew.

Some of his relics are also kept in the great Grecian monastery of Mount Athos. St. Luke was never married, and lived to be eighty-four years old. According to tradition, he was a skilled artist, and several pictures of Our Blessed Lady, venerated in Rome and elsewhere, are attributed to his brush.

Popular St. Luke Medal and St. Luke Rosary

Prayers to St. Luke the Apostle

Prayer to Saint Luke

St. Luke, you were
chosen to reveal in preaching
and writing God’s love for the
poor. Moved by the heavenly
Spirit of Love, you detailed the
life of Jesus, showing His
divinity and His genuine
compassion for all human beings.
Help those who already
glory in God’s name to
persevere in one heart and
one mind, and inspire all
people that they may hear the
Good News of Salvation.
Amen.

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Prayer to St. Luke

Almighty God, Who didst inspire Thy servant St. Luke the physician to set forth in the Gospel the love and healing power of Thy Son: Graciously continue in Thy Church the love and power to heal, to the praise and glory of Thy Name; through the same Thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

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Prayer of Intercession to St. Luke

Almighty God, you inspired Your servant St. Luke the Evangelist and Physician to set forth in the gospel the love and the healing power of your Son. In faithfully detailing the humanity of Jesus, he also showed the divinity of Jesus and His genuine compassion for all human beings.

May St. Luke intercede for us that we may deepen our understanding of the gospel and grow in compassion of Jesus. May his intercession enable our new parish to follow Your way and plan for us.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.

St. Luke the Apostle – Prayer for Healing and Guidance

Dear St. Luke the Apostle, you were a physician and a faithful witness to the Word of God. I come to you today seeking your intercession for my health and guidance in my life. Please pray for me and all those who are suffering from physical or emotional pain, that we may find comfort and healing through our faith in Jesus Christ.

Grant me the wisdom and strength to follow the teachings of our Lord, and to always strive towards a life of virtue and holiness. May I have the courage to share the Good News of salvation with others, just as you did through your writings in the Gospel of Luke. Amen.

St. Luke the Apostle – Prayer for Artists and Creatives

Dear St. Luke the Apostle, as a skilled painter and writer, you were an artist who used your talents to glorify God. I ask for your intercession as I pursue my own creative passions and talents.

Help me to use my skills to honor and serve the Lord, and to use them to bring beauty and joy to others. Give me the courage to be creative and bold in my work, and to always seek the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

St. Luke the Apostle – Prayer for Travelers and Pilgrims

Dear St. Luke the Apostle, as a traveling companion of St. Paul on his missionary journeys, you have a special connection to the needs of travelers and pilgrims.

I ask for your protection and guidance as I embark on my own journeys, whether they be physical or spiritual. Keep me safe from harm, and help me to trust in the Lord’s provisions for me, just as you did during your travels. May I always be a faithful witness to the Gospel, just as you were to St. Paul. Amen.

St. Luke the Apostle: Patron Saint of Physicians and Artists

St. Luke the Apostle, also known as Luke the Evangelist, is considered the patron saint of physicians and artists. He was a physician and a companion of St. Paul, and is known for writing one of the four Gospels in the New Testament.

Why is St. Luke the Patron Saint of Physicians and Artists?

St. Luke’s background as a physician is believed to have influenced his Gospel writing, which emphasizes the healing miracles of Jesus and the compassion of Christ for those who suffered. This connection to medicine and healing has led to St. Luke’s association with the medical profession and his designation as the patron saint of physicians.

St. Luke is also known for his artistic talents, and is credited with creating the first icon of the Virgin Mary and the child Jesus. This association with the arts, combined with his background as a physician, has made St. Luke a popular patron saint for both artists and physicians.

St. Luke’s Legacy

St. Luke’s legacy is one of compassion and care for those in need. He emphasized the healing miracles of Jesus and the compassion of Christ for those who suffered in his Gospel writing, and this message continues to be an important part of the Christian faith.

St. Luke’s legacy is also one of artistic expression and creativity. He is remembered as a patron saint of artists and as an example of the ways in which the arts can be used to tell important stories and convey important messages.

For physicians, St. Luke serves as a reminder of the importance of compassion and care for their patients. He is a model of the ideal physician, who is not only skilled in medicine, but who also has a heart for healing and a desire to help those in need.

In conclusion, St. Luke the Apostle continues to be remembered and venerated as a patron saint of physicians and artists. His legacy of compassion, care, and artistic expression remains an important part of the Christian tradition.” “

Reflection on the feast day of St. Luke the Apostle

The feast day of St. Luke the Apostle is October 18th.

St. Luke the Apostle was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus, and the author of the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament. He is considered the patron saint of doctors, painters and sculptors, and he is known for his emphasis on the humanity of Jesus and the importance of compassion and charity. He is also known for being a physician and for including many healing stories in his gospel.

On his feast day, we can reflect on the importance of compassion and charity. St. Luke emphasized the humanity of Jesus, and he included many stories of Jesus showing compassion and charity towards those in need. He reminds us that as followers of Jesus, we too are called to show compassion and charity towards others. This can be done through acts of kindness, volunteering, and donating to charitable organizations.

St. Luke’s profession as a physician also reminds us of the importance of physical healing and well-being. He understood the connection between physical and spiritual health, and included many stories of Jesus healing the sick in his gospel. This is a reminder for us to take care of our physical health and to also be open to the healing power of God in our lives.

St. Luke’s role as a historian and his writings in the Acts of the Apostles also remind us of the importance of preserving the history of the church. He wrote a detailed account of the early Christian church and the spread of Christianity, which provides valuable insights into the formation of the early church. His work also serves as a reminder for us to study the history of the church and to learn from it.

In conclusion, the feast day of St. Luke the Apostle is an opportunity for us to reflect on the importance of compassion, charity, physical healing, and preserving the history of the church. Let us follow the example of St. Luke and strive to show compassion and charity towards others, to take care of our physical health, and to study and learn from the history of the church.

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Also check out our handmade St. Luke the Apostle Medal and St. Luke the Apostle Rosary and St. Luke the Apostle Rosary Bracelet .