St Luke, Evangelist
St. Luke, originally a pagan, was born, according to Eusebius, at Antioch, the capital of the kings of Syria. St. Paul tells us that he exercised the profession of a physician. He is also reputed to have been a painter. He accompanied the apostle of the nations in his travels, and was with him during most of his missions and when he was twice a prisoner in Rome. Owing to his connection with this master and the other apostles, he was enabled to write the third gospel which St. Jerome and St. John Chrysostom describe as the "gospel of St. Paul". He also wrote the Acts of the Apostles.
Like the Doctor of the Gentiles, he addresses himself to pagans to show them that salvation is brought by Jesus to all men without exception who believe in Him. He is symbolically represented as an ox, one of the four animals in the vision of Ezechiel 2, because at the beginning of his Gospel he mentions the priesthood of Zacharias, and because the ox was usually the victim in the sacrifices of the Old Law.
The Mass of St. Luke, like that of St. Mark, offers this particular that its Gospel refers to the instructions given by the Saviour to His seventy-two disciples, both these evangelists not having been apostles, but only disciples of our Lord. St. Jerome relates that St. Luke died in Achaia, about the year 83, at the age of 84.
To me, Thy friends, O God, are made exceedingly honourable; their principality is exceedingly strengthened. * Lord, Thou hast proved me and known me: Thou hast known my sitting down and my rising up.
(Psalm 138:17,1-2, from the Introit of Mass).
Interveniat pro nobis, quaesumus, Domine, sanctus tuus Lucas Evangelista: qui crucis mortificationem iugiter in suo corpore, pro tui nominis honore, portavit.
We beseech Thee, O Lord, grant us to be aided by the prayers of Saint Luke thine Evangelist; who for the glory of Thy name ever bore in his body the mortification of the cross.
(Collect).
Catholic encyclopaedia on St Luke and his gospel: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09420a.htm
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