St Luke the Evangelist is the author of the canonical Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles.
He was born in the 1st century AD in Antioch, Syria. He was a disciple of St Paul the Apostle as well as a medical doctor.
He is believed to have died as a martyr at the age of 84 while other accounts say that he died in Thebes, Boeotia, in Greece where he had settled to write his Gospel.
We celebrate his feast day on October 18 every year in the Catholic Church.
| St Luke the Evangelist Biography | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Date of Birth | 1st century AD |
| Place of Birth | Antioch, Syria |
| Profession | Physician and a disciple of St. Paul |
| Place of Work | Roman Empire |
| Date of Death | Late 1st century AD |
| Place of Death | Thebes, Boeotia, Greece |
| Feast Day | October 18 |
| Canonization | Pre-Congregation |
| Patron Saint of | 1. Artists 2. Bachelors 3. Physicians 4. Surgeons 5. Farmers |
St Luke the Evangelist Life History
St Luke was born in Antioch, Syria in the Roman Empire to pagan and Greek parents.
He was converted by Saint Paul the Apostle and was his disciple. He was present in all the Pauline missions as Paul’s personal physician and, in effect, as a kind of biographer.
He uses the word “we” to signify that he was present when most of the things he wrote about happened during the Pauline missions.
In the Acts of Apostles, Luke tells us about the beginning and deeds of the very early Church. It is through this work of Luke that we come to know about Pentecost and the workings of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles.
Luke is present in Rome with the Apostle Paul near the end of Paul’s life. This is found in The second letter of St Paul to Timothy. Luke is one of the companions of Paul who did not abandon him in Rome during his imprisonment and martyrdom.
11 Luke is the only one with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is helpful to me in the ministry. – 2 Timothy 4:11
St Luke’s Nationality and Ethnicity
St Luke was considered a Gentile though some sources say he was a Hellenic Jew; a form of Judaism that combined Jewish religious culture with some elements of Greek culture. This can be found in the Letter of St Paul to the Colossians.
10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you greetings, as does Mark the cousin of Barnabas
11 and Jesus, who is called Justus, who are of the circumcision; these alone are my co-workers for the kingdom of God …
14 Luke the beloved physician sends greetings, as does Demas. – Colossians 4:10-11,14
St Luke wrote for an audience that was not Jewish. There are words that the other Gospels leave in their original language that St Luke translates into Greek. This means his target audience could not understand Aramaic or Hebrew.
It is only in the Gospel of Luke that we find the
- Story of Lazarus and the rich man
- Virgin’s Magnificat
- The scriptural basis for the “Hail Mary”
St Luke’s Education
He was a disciple and an apprentice of Saint Paul the Apostle as it was evident that he traveled with him to all the Pauline missions.
He was said to have been a physician, an artist, and a rhetorician; someone who speaks words primarily to impress or to persuade.
Death
St Luke was believed to have been murdered as a martyr after he was said to have been hung from an olive tree though other sources say that he may have died a natural death.
He died at the age of 84 in Thiva, the ancient Greek name for Thebes, Boetia (Central Greece), in the Roman province of Achaia. His tomb is located in Thebes.
Relics
His Relics are situated in the following areas;
- His body is at The Abbey of Santa Gustina in Padua
- His head is at Saint Vitus Cathedral in Prague
- His rib is at his Tomb in Thebes
Canonization
St. Luke was canonized pre-congregation; that is before the set up of modern investigations by the congregation for the Causes of Saints.
St. Luke’s Feast day
We celebrate his feast day on October 18 every year in the Catholic Church.
Saint Luke the Evangelist is Venerated in
He is venerated in all the Churches worldwide that venerate and celebrate saints.
St Luke the Evangelist Legacy and Major works
St.Luke’s major works are;
- The authorship of the Gospel according to Luke and also the Acts of the Apostles. Together they account for 27.5% of the New Testament, the largest contribution by a single author.
- He also contributed in the Pauline missionary work as it is stated that he travelled with the Apostle from Troas to Macedonia, stayed behind evidently for seven years at Philippi and lastly, shared the shipwreck and dangers of the memorable journey to Rome.
St Luke’s Attributes
St. Luke is represented in various ways, including the following;
- Physician
- Evangelist
- A man with a book, a pen or a brush
- A man painting an icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- A man accompanied by a winged ox
- A bishop
St Luke is the Patron Saint of
- Physicians
- Artists
- Rhetoricians
- Surgeons
- Farmers
Saint Luke’s Prayer
👉O holy apostle, St. Luke, I ask your intercession on behalf of all doctors, especially (name person). Humbly lay them at the Divine Physician’s feet asking that they have: the wisdom and knowledge necessary to treat their patients effectively and restore them to physical and mental health; the compassion and empathy necessary to be of comfort to those who are suffering; and the strength and grace to fulfill their duties as doctors.
👉I also ask that you pray that they are kept safe from all harm and that they never succumb to the illnesses they are treating.
👉O blessed St. Luke, we thank you for your prayers and assistance. Amen.
Quotes
“Remember the past, plan for the future but live for today, for yesterday is gone and tomorrow may never come.”
Other Catholic Saints whose Feast Days are in October
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