Feast Days · October 18, 2026 · Draft for Tony's review

St Luke, Patron of Artists: Why Sacred Art Matters

October 18 is the feast of St. Luke the Evangelist. He wrote the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles, and St. Paul calls him "the beloved physician" (Colossians 4:14). Luke is the Gospel writer who gives us the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Magnificat and the Christmas story with the shepherds. Much of what we know about Our Lady comes through him.

There's also an old tradition that Luke painted the first icon of Mary. Historians can't prove it, but the tradition is why he's the patron saint of painters and artists, along with doctors.

I think about that a lot, because sacred art is a big part of why I started this shop. A good image can teach and pray at the same time. Long before most people could read, the Church taught the faith through windows, statues and icons. When I choose a design, I want it to do a little of that: to point back to Christ, his Mother, and the saints.

A prayer for today: "St. Luke, you showed us the face of Christ in your Gospel. Pray for all who make beautiful things for God, and help us see Him in the people we meet. Amen."

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