In the Letter to the Colossians, St. Paul speaks of St. Luke the Evangelist and defines him as "Luke, the beloved physician" (Col 4:14). After everyone had abandoned St. Paul in the final phase of the captivity, the Apostle of the Gentiles wrote to Timothy: "the only one who is with me is Luke" (2 Tim 4:11).
According to the historian Eusebius, he was born in Antioch of Syria, and was of a pagan family. Vatican Agency on St. Luke, who shows a special sensitivity in recounting the evangelization of the Gentiles. He narrates the parable of the Good Samaritan, quotes the words of Jesus for the faith of the widow of Zarephath, of Naaman the Syrian and of the leprous Samaritan, the only one who returns to give thanks after his healing.
He accompanied the Apostle Paul in his preaching and has been called the evangelist of mercy. He pays special attention to the poor and to repentant sinners who have accepted God's forgiveness. He includes the parable of Lazarus and Epulon, the parable of the prodigal son and the Father who receives him mercifully with open arms, and the parable of the forgiven sinner who washes the feet of Jesus with her tears, among others.
At the side of the Virgin Mary
As we have already mentioned, the relationship with Mary is another main characteristic of his Gospel. We learn about the Annunciation, the visit to St. Elizabeth, the "Magnificat", or the anguish of Mary and Joseph, when they do not find Jesus and he was with the doctors of the law in the Temple.
St. Luke is the patron saint of doctors, together with St. Cosmas and St. Damian, and also of painters, because he is the evangelist who best traced the physiognomy of the Virgin, says the franciscan directory.
