Saint Elijah

Prophet & Our Father

July 20: Celebrated as a Solemnity with proper texts.

The prophet Elijah appears in Scriptures as a man of God who lived always in God's presence and fought zealously for the worship of the one true God. He defended God's law in the solemn contest on Mount Carmel, and afterwards was given on Mount Horeb an intimate experience of the living God. The inspiration that was found in him from the very beginnings of the Order so pervades its whole history that the prophet may deservedly be called the founder of the Carmelite ideal.

Prayer

Almighty, ever‑living God,

your prophet Elijah, our Father,

lived always in your presence

and was zealous for the honour due to your name.

May we, your servants, always seek your face

and bear witness to your love.

We ask this grace through our Lord Jesus Christ,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

One God, for ever and ever.

Scripture Readings

1Kings 19:1-9a, 11-14a; 1Peter 1:8-12; Gospel - Luke 9:28b-36.

Texts taken from the “Carmelite Proper of the Liturgy of the Hours,”

Institutum Carmelitanum, Rome: 1993.

Image courtesy of the Carmelnet webmaster, USA.