St Luke

St Luke – the beloved physician – was the author of one of the three synoptic gospels and the Acts of the Apostles, a first-hand account as he traveled with St Paul during many of his journeys. October 18 is his feast day.

St Luke’s gospel is the only one to tell the details of the Annunciation and the Nativity. It is thought that he spoke with the Blessed Virgin Mary because this part of his gospel has a more Aramaic tone, the language she would have spoken. Here are the beautiful words from the angel Gabriel, “Hail, full of Grace, the Lord is with thee” and Elizabeth’s greeting “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” We read about the journey to Bethlehem and the angels’ visit to the shepherds proclaiming the good news, the presentation of the infant in the temple, and finding the child Jesus teaching in the temple. It’s such a joy to learn about the earliest days of Jesus.

The Acts of the Apostles tells us about what happened during the travels of the Apostles, the conversions of the Gentiles, Stephen the first martyr, and Pentecost. St Luke was the last of the disciples to stand with St Paul before his (Paul’s) martyrdom and leaves us a wonderful account of the history of the earliest days of the Church. St Luke is the patron saint of physicians and surgeons. St Luke, pray for us.