St Luke

Icon of St Luke

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT ST LUKE

  • St Luke’s Feast Day is 18th October
  • He was a Roman Citizen
  • St Luke wrote a gospel about Jesus and a record for the early church called the Acts of the Apostles
  • St Luke is the patron saint of Doctors and medical persons
  • He died in Boeotia in Greece in around 84AD
  • St Luke is often shown with an ox or a calf because these are the symbols of sacrifice — the sacrifice Jesus made for all the world.

 

St Luke also has a special connection with the women in Jesus’ life, especially Mary. It is only in St Luke’s gospel that we hear the story of the Annunciation, Mary’s visit to Elizabeth including the Magnificat, the Presentation, and the story of Jesus’ disappearance in Jerusalem. It is St Luke that we have to thank for the Scriptural parts of the Hail Mary: “Hail Mary full of grace” spoken at the Annunciation and “Blessed are you and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus” spoken by her cousin Elizabeth.

Forgiveness and God’s mercy to sinners is also of first importance to St Luke. Only in St Luke do we hear the story of the Prodigal Son welcomed back by the overjoyed father. Only in St Luke do we hear the story of the forgiven woman disrupting the feast by washing Jesus’ feet with her tears. Throughout St Luke’s gospel, Jesus takes the side of the sinner who wants to return to God’s mercy.