ST ELIJAH, PROPHET - 20 JULY

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JULY

Saints celebrated on the 20th of July

Prayer to the Angels and the Saints

Heavenly Father, in praising Your Angels and Saints we praise Your glory, for by honouring them we honour You, their Creator. Their splendour shows us Your greatness, which infinitely surpasses that of all creation.

In Your loving providence, You saw fit to send Your Angels to watch over us. Grant that we may always be under their protection and one day enjoy their company in heaven.

Heavenly Father, You are glorified in Your Saints, for their glory is the crowning of Your gifts. You provide an example for us by their lives on earth, You give us their friendship by our communion with them, You grant us strength and protection through their prayer for the Church, and You spur us on to victory over evil and the prize of eternal glory by this great company of witnesses.

Grant that we who aspire to take part in their joy may be filled with the Spirit that blessed their lives, so that, after sharing their faith on earth, we may also experience their peace in heaven. Amen.

ST ELIJAH, PROPHET

Elias (Elijah) lived in the 8th century B.C. The great Prophet raised up in the Kingdom of Israel to reprove the Ten Fallen Tribes. His works are set forth in the Books of Kings. 

THE TRADITION IS THAT HE HAS TO REAPPEAR AND TO DIE FOR CHRIST

The tradition is that, carried away from this world in a chariot of fire he has to reappear upon earth, and to die for Christ at the end of time (Apocalypse 11). The Carmelite Order, tracing its origin to the "sons of the prophets" (4 [2]Kings 1:13), venerates Saint Elias as its founder. 

(From The Book of Saints, 1921, by the Monks of Ramsgate)

PRAYER:

Almighty, ever-living God,

your prophet Elijah 

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 through Christ our Lord. Amen.