Saint Luke Icon

SAINT LUKE
Evangelist

DOUBLE, SECOND CLASS / RED
St. Luke, the inspired author of the third Gospel and of the Acts of the Apostles, was a native of Antioch in Syria and a physician, and one of the early converts from paganism. He accompanied St. Paul on a considerable part of his missionary journeying, even companioning him in prison at Rome on two different occasions. His account of these events, contained in the Acts, is firsthand history.
Luke's Gospel is, above all, the Gospel of the Merciful Heart of Jesus. It emphasizes the fact that Christ is the salvation of all men, especially of the repentant sinner and of the lowly. Legend says that Luke painted the Blessed Virgin's portrait. It is certainly true that he painted the most beautiful word-picture of Mary ever written.
INTROIT Ps. 138:17Your friends are greatly honored by me, O God; their pre-eminence is definitely established.
Ps. 138:1-2. O Lord, You have proved me and You know me; You know when I sit and when I stand.
V. Glory be . . .

COLLECT
O Lord, let us have as our intercessor Your holy evangelist Luke, who bore the sufferings of the cross in his own body in honor of Your holy name. Through our Lord . . .

EPISTLE II Cor. 8:16-24
Brethren: Thanks be to God, who hath given the same carefulness for you in the heart of Titus.
For indeed he accepted the exhortation: but, being more careful, of his own will he went unto you. We have sent also with him the brother whose praise is in the gospel through all the churches. And not that only: but he was also ordained by the churches companion of our travels, for this grace, which is administered by us, to the glory of the Lord and our determined will:
Avoiding this, lest any man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us. For we forecast what may be good, not only before God but also before men. And we have sent with them our brother also, whom we have often proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent: with much confidence in you, Either for Titus, who is my companion and fellow labourer towards you, or our brethren, the apostles of the churches, the glory of Christ. Wherefore shew ye to them, in the sight of the churches, the evidence of your charity and of our boasting on your behalf.

GRADUAL Ps. 18:5, 2
Their voice has gone forth through all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
V. The heavens show forth the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims His handiwork.

Alleluia, alleluia! V. John 15:16
I have chosen you out of the world that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit shall remain. Alleluia!

GOSPEL Luke 10:1-9
At that time, the Lord appointed also other seventy-two. And he sent them two and two before his face into every city and place whither he himself was to come. And he said to them: "The harvest indeed is great, but the labourers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that he send labourers into his harvest. Go: Behold I send you as lambs among wolves. Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way. Into whatever house you enter, first say: Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon him: but if not, it shall return to you. And in the same house, remain, eating and drinking such things as they have: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Remove not from house to house. And into what city soever you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. And heal the sick that are therein and say to them: The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you."

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Ps. 138:17
Your friends are greatly honored by me, O God; their pre-eminence is definitely established.

SECRET 
Grant us Your heavenly grace, O Lord, that we may serve You in perfect freedom. Let the offering, which we bring You through the intercession of Your blessed evangelist Luke, heal us and lead us to everlasting glory. Through our Lord . . .

COMMUNION ANTOPHON Matt. 19:28
You who have followed Me shall sit on the thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

POSTCOMMUNION 
O Almighty God, may the Sacrament we have received at Your holy altar sanctify our souls and keep us unharmed through the prayers of Your blessed evangelist Luke. Through our Lord . . .