Friends of the Rosary, Today, October 18, is the Feast of St. Luke Evangelist. He is the author of the third Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles, which record the life of the early Christian communities. His name means "bringer of light" (= Luke). He was a native of Antioch in Syria and a practicing physician when St. Paul converted him. He accompanied him on most of his missionary journeys. He was still with St. Paul in Rome when he was in prison awaiting death. He was one of the early converts from paganism. Luke's Gospel is the Gospel of the Merciful Heart of Jesus. St. Jerome called it also "Paul's Gospel." It emphasizes that Christ is the salvation of all men, especially of the repentant sinner and the lowly. This Gospel includes precious details about our Lady and Christ's childhood. It also preserved some of the most moving of our Lord's parables, such as the lost sheep and the prodigal son. Legend says that Luke painted the Blessed Virgin's portrait. St. Luke did not personally know our Lord, and like St. Mark, the author of the second Gospel, he is not included among the apostles. For this reason, the Gospel chosen for their feast is the account of the sending forth of the seventy-two disciples. Ave Maria! Jesus, I Trust In You! St. Luke, Pray for Us! Come, Holy Spirit, come! To Jesus through Mary! + Mikel Amigot | RosaryNetwork.com, New York • ⁠October 18, 2024, Today’s Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET