Feast of Saint Luke (October 18th)
The patron saint of artists, (especially painters), bookbinders, those who work artistically with their hands, Saint Luke is a dear saint that I encounter practically every day as I go about my multitude of creative hobbies.
For his feast day, I offered him a red candle, and blessed most of my creative tools, as well as my artistic sketchbooks relevant to my practice (whether that's a holiday book or a spiritual art project record), and of course most importantly, my own hands.
I read Acts 2, for his account of the Pentecost and of holy inspiration coming down through the Holy Spirit, which gives the gifts of discernment, creativity and love to mankind.
I read out a prayer written by Ned Bustard & Doug McKelvey, in the book Every Moment Holy, volume III: The Work of the People by Douglas Kaine McKelvey. It's a really great book of intensely beautiful, every day prayers, for I kid you not, every single human activity under the sun. I use it when cooking, baking, before starting a creative work, and so much more. It's available in most religion/spirituality sections of bookstores, for those that do liturgy at home.
meet me in this lesser making.
Guide my hands and heart.
Give me discipline to steward well my craft.
Let me find a fertile place
to sink my roots within the long tradition and continuing
conversation of your children
who, across thousands of years,
have sought to display beauty,
to celebrate holy mystery,
and to somehow echo eternal yearnings
Let me, in the short span of my life,
contribute something more to that good conversation.
And let me release my expectations
of the times and places and ways in which it might be received.
Let me instead simply craft
the finest offering I am able ---
within my given limits of time, and skill and circumstance ---
and then offer it to you to use it as you will.
Let that be enough for me, O Lord.
Whether it be through rug hooking, painting in acrylics/watercolor, finger-weaving sashes, woodwork, knitting, crocheting, sewing, tailoring, writing, or drawing from life, I feel a holy presence when I craft. It's through the arts that I find my deepest well of belonging and communion.
Watch over me Saint Luke, and all the artists that I know and love.
A Quebecois folklore piece for this day: if it rains today, you can be sure to see snow grace the mountaintops soon.
"À la Saint-Luc, la pluie du vallon fait de la neige sur le mont."
Pomerleau, Jeanne. Saints et fêtes du jour au Canada français. les éditions GID, 2014. p.782.
Surrounded by art every day!
