Feast of the Prophet Elijah

Till like a fire there appeared the prophet whose words were as a flaming furnace.  

Their staff of bread he shattered, in his zeal he reduced them to straits;  

By God's word he shut up the heavens and three times brought down fire.

How awesome are you, ELIJAH! Whose glory is equal to yours?

You brought a dead man back to life from the nether world, by the will of the LORD.  

You sent kings down to destruction, and nobles, from their beds of sickness.

You heard threats at Sinai, at Horeb avenging judgments.  

You anointed kings who should inflict vengeance, and a prophet as your successor.  

You were taken aloft in a whirlwind, in a chariot with fiery horses.  

You are destined, it is written, in time to come to put an end to wrath before the day of the LORD, To turn back the hearts of fathers toward their sons, and to reestablish the tribes of Jacob.

Blessed is he who shall have seen you before he dies,  

O Elijah, enveloped in the whirlwind! - Sirach 48