St. Luke, October 18
A physician and traveling companion of St. Paul, Luke wrote a Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. He was the only Gospel writer who was not Jewish. His symbol is the ox; he is the patron of doctors and artists, since tradition says he painted Mary.
On the General Roman Calendar, October 18 is a feast: Saint Luke, Evangelist.
Name days on October 18
In countries that keep name days, October 18 is the day for people named Luke and Lucas. These names come from the same saint, as variants, nicknames or forms used in other languages.
| Name | Feast day |
|---|---|
| Luke | October 18 |
| Lucas | October 18 |
October 18 on the calendar
October 18 is the 291st day of the year (the 292nd in a leap year), with 74 days left until December 31. Here is the day of the week it falls on in the coming years:
| Year | Day |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Sunday |
| 2027 | Monday |
| 2028 | Wednesday |
| 2029 | Thursday |
| 2030 | Friday |
Keeping October 18
October 18 falls in October, the month of the rosary. As a feast, it is kept by the whole Church with its own readings and the Gloria at Mass. Families who keep name days often mark the day with a card, a candle or a favorite meal, and parishes named after the saint may hold a festival. If you know someone named Luke and Lucas, it is a good day to send a note.
Saints of the week around October 18
| Date | Saint or feast |
|---|---|
| October 15 | St. Teresa of Ávila |
| October 16 | St. Margaret Mary Alacoque |
| October 17 | St. Ignatius of Antioch |
| October 19 | Sts. John de Brébeuf, Isaac Jogues and Companions |
| October 20 | St. Paul of the Cross |
| October 21 | St. Ursula |
The day before, October 17, is the day of St. Ignatius of Antioch. The day after, October 19, belongs to Sts. John de Brébeuf, Isaac Jogues and Companions. Looking for a name? Try the name day calendar or go back to today’s saint.