Feast of Elijah the Prophet

Icon of Elijah, dating to about 1200AD.

Today is the feast of the great Old Testament Prophet, Elijah [Elias].  While he didn't author a book of the Scriptures like Isaiah or Jeremiah, he certainly deserves renown for the greatness of his mission, the boldness of his action, and the firmness of his faith.  Elijah is a great man, indeed.  His life is discussed in 1 Kings 17- 2 Kings 2.

The Old Catholic Encyclopedia says of Elijah:
"The loftiest and most wonderful prophet of the Old Testament. What we know of his public life is sketched in a few popular narratives enshrined, for the most part, in the First (Third) Book of Kings. These narratives, which bear the stamp of an almost contemporary age, very likely took shape in Northern Israel, and are full of the most graphic and interesting details. Every part of the prophet's life therein narrated bears out the description of the writer of Ecclesiasticus: He was 'as a fire, and his word burnt like a torch' (48:1). The times called for such a prophet. Under the baneful influence of his Tyrian wife Jezabel, Achab, though perhaps not intending to forsake altogether Yahveh's worship, had nevertheless erected in Samaria a temple to the Tyrian Baal (1 Kings 16:32) and introduced a multitude of foreign priests (xviii 19); doubtless he had occasionally offered sacrifices to the pagan deity, and, most of all, hallowed a bloody persecution of the prophets of Yahveh."

Elijah, then, was the great prophet of God to the wayward northern tribes of Israel, who had catastrophically abandoned the faithfulness to the covenant with God.  Thus, he is a character of the 9th century BC.

On a personal level, his bold confrontation with the false prophets of Baal [1 Kings 18] -- and his blunt ecumenism in dealing with them after their defeat -- along with his being taken up in 2 Kings 2 are striking and memorable, indeed.  May we have such zeal and such a blessed end.

Elijah in the Desert by Washington Allston

In the Latin Rite, his feast is listed in the Roman Martyrology, and in the Eastern Churches, his feast occupies a prominent place on the liturgical calendar.  He is, in fact, the patron saint of Bosnia.  Likewise, it is a particular day of celebration for members of the Order of Mount Carmel.

Elijah is particularly associated with Mt. Carmel -- the Arab name for the mountain is a reference to the prophet -- and venerated by those, his spiritual children.

I would also note that it is possible for members of the Confraternity of the Brown Scapular to receive a plenary indulgence, under the usual conditions, today.  The official site of the Carmelite Order notes:
"New members may gain plenary indulgences on the day they join the Confraternity and on the following feasts: Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel (16 July), St. Elias, prophet (20 July), St. Simon Stock (16 May), St. Therese of the Child Jesus (1 October), St. Teresa of Jesus (15 October), all the Carmelite Saints (14 November), and St. John of the Cross (14 December), provided they fulfil the usual conditions: going to confession and communion, saying a prayer for the intentions of the Pope and renewing the promise to observe the commitments to the Confraternity."  Order of Mt. Carmel: Confraternities

Lest that language make it seem only new members may receive the indulgence, this blogger did contact the Secretariat General of the Order, inquiring:
"[D]o members enjoy the opportunity of gaining the plenary indulgence, under the usual conditions, on those feast days every year, or only while 'new members.'"
The response: "As you write, everyone can get the plenary indulgence under the usual conditions."

In closing, I might note that for further reading you can consult:
Old Catholic Encyclopedia: Elijah the Prophet

Catholic Saints Info: Elijah the Prophet

Wednesday Audience of Pope Benedict XVI: 15 June 2011

Finally, the composer Felix Mendelssohn actually wrote an Oratorio on the Prophet:

Live well.