Articles / Special

Miniature of Saint Luke by Armenian manuscript illuminator Toros Roslin, 13th century. (Credit : Wikimedia Commons)

On Oct. 18, Catholics and other Christians around the world celebrate the Feast of St. Luke the Evangelist. He wrote the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles, making him the most prolific writer of the New Testament, even surpassing the volume of St. Paul’s writings.

We read in Sacred Scripture that Luke traveled alongside Paul on his missionary journeys and witnessed firsthand the power of faith lived boldly. His writings in the Acts of the Apostles give us invaluable insight into the early Church—how it grew, struggled, and spread the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire.

Luke came from the large metropolitan city of Antioch, a part of modern-day Turkey. Historians do not know whether Luke came to Christianity from Judaism or paganism, although there are strong suggestions that Luke was a Gentile convert.

Educated as a physician in the Greek-speaking city, Luke was among the most cultured and cosmopolitan members of the early Church. Scholars of archeology and ancient literature have ranked him among the top historians of his time period, besides noting the outstanding Greek prose style and technical accuracy of his accounts of Christ’s life and the apostles’ missionary journeys.

In the Gospel of Luke, we read beautiful accounts of the Annunciation, the Visitation, and the Magnificat— Mary’s joyous hymn of praise. It is from St. Luke that we have access to these special moments in Our Blessed Mother’s life. Most likely, St. Luke knew the Blessed Virgin Mary and received these accounts directly from her.

Tradition credits him with painting several icons of Christ’s mother, and one of the sacred portraits ascribed to him — known by the title “Salvation of the Roman People” — survives to this day in the Basilica of St. Mary Major.

Some traditions hold that Luke became a direct disciple of Jesus before the Ascension, while others hold that he became a believer only afterward. After St. Paul’s conversion, Luke accompanied him as his personal physician — and, in effect, as a kind of biographer, since the journeys of Paul on which Luke accompanied him occupy a large portion of the Acts of the Apostles. Luke probably wrote this text, the final narrative portion of the New Testament, in the city of Rome, where the account ends.

Luke was also among the only companions of Paul who did not abandon him during his final imprisonment and death in Rome. After the martyrdom of St. Paul in the year 67, Luke is said to have preached elsewhere throughout the Mediterranean and possibly died as a martyr. However, tradition is unclear on this point.

St. Luke’s life and writings inspire us to share our faith with conviction, to accompany others on their faith journeys, and to bring Christ’s healing love wherever we go.

- Article by Catholic Time Staff