Elijah

==== Carmelite tradition ====
[[file:Augustins - Le Prophète Élie by Marc Arcis.jpg|thumb|left|1690 [[Musée des Augustins]]]]
Elijah is revered as the spiritual Father and traditional founder of the Catholic religious Order of [[Carmelites]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ncregister.com/blog/st-elijah-spiritual-father-of-the-carmelite-order |title=St. Elijah, Spiritual Father of the Carmelite Order |publisher=National Catholic Register |date=20 July 2018}}</ref> In addition to taking their name from Mt. Carmel where the first [[hermit]]s of the order established themselves, the Calced Carmelite and [[Discalced Carmelites|Discalced Carmelite]] traditions pertaining to Elijah focus upon the prophet's withdrawal from public life.<ref>Ackerman, Jane. "Stories of Elijah and medieval Carmelite identity." ''History of Religions.'' 35(2). 1995. 124–47.</ref><ref>Ackerman, Jane. ''Elijah Prophet of Carmel.'' Washington, D.C.: Institute of Carmelite Studies Publications, 2003.</ref> The medieval Carmelite [[Book of the First Monks]] offers some insight into the heart of the Orders' contemplative vocation and reverence for the prophet.

In the 17th century the [[Bollandist Society]], whose declared aim was to search out and classify materials concerning the saints venerated by the Church, and to print what seemed to be the most reliable sources of information <ref name=Thurston>{{Cite web |url=http://archive.thetablet.co.uk/article/27th-july-1907/6/the-bollandists-and-their-work-by-herbert-thurston |title=Thurston, Herbert. "The Bollandists and Their Work", ''The Tablet'', July 27, 1907 |access-date=16 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331101713/http://archive.thetablet.co.uk/article/27th-july-1907/6/the-bollandists-and-their-work-by-herbert-thurston |archive-date=31 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> entered into controversy with the Carmelites on this point. In writing of St. [[Albert Avogadro|Albert]], Patriarch of Jerusalem and author of the Carmelite rule, the Bollandist [[Daniel Papebroch]] stated that the attribution of Carmelite origin to Elijah was insufficiently grounded. The Carmelites reacted strongly. From 1681 to 1698 a series of letters, pamphlets and other documents was issued by each side. The Carmelites were supported by a Spanish tribunal, while the Bollandists had the support of [[Jean de Launoy]] and the [[University of Paris|Sorbonne]]. In November 1698, [[Pope Innocent XII]] ordered an end to the controversy.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://carmelitenuns.com/Controversies_Oother_Orders.htm| title = "Controversies with Other Orders", The Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel"}}</ref>