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Father Elijah: An Apocalypse by Michael…
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Father Elijah: An Apocalypse (original 1996; edition 1997)

by Michael O'Brien (Author)

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6561235,091 (4.22)13
This was an interesting read for me. As a spiritualist atheist (and therefore the Bad Guy in the story), I found it fascinating to find more similarities than differences between my belief system and Catholicism. O'Brien is adroit in showing the reader his world view. Sometimes discussions did linger too much on the philosophical, theological side but generally there was good balance between plot, characters and religious debate. Although I'm unlikely to read the trilogy, I would definitely recommend this read. ( )
  Cecilturtle | Jul 8, 2020 |
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Showing 11 of 11
This was an interesting read for me. As a spiritualist atheist (and therefore the Bad Guy in the story), I found it fascinating to find more similarities than differences between my belief system and Catholicism. O'Brien is adroit in showing the reader his world view. Sometimes discussions did linger too much on the philosophical, theological side but generally there was good balance between plot, characters and religious debate. Although I'm unlikely to read the trilogy, I would definitely recommend this read. ( )
  Cecilturtle | Jul 8, 2020 |
Wonderful. Full disclosure, I am very familiar with the spiritual elements of the story. That said, I really enjoyed it. ( )
  daeverett | May 27, 2020 |
This was a very interesting book. I've never read anything like it--part political thriller, part philosophical treatise, part spirituality, part apocalyptic vision, part exploration of ecclesiastical issues. It brings in all these different elements and somehow still works as a cohesive story. I can't say that everyone would enjoy it--it does contain a good deal of introspection and philosophizing, and as the main character is a priest (as are many of the side characters), there are multiple points where it toes the line of preachy. For some, it will probably go a little too far over that line. I, however, felt that the themes and ideas were so well integrated into the book, and into the character of the titular Father Elijah, that it never seemed like I was being preached to. Everything seemed to flow straight from the convictions of the characters. There were dozens of portions that I felt the urge to quote on Facebook, and I will be thinking about this book for a long time. The worldview presented is unabashedly Catholic, unabashedly orthodox, and that is refreshing in a world where so many seem intent on watering down the Faith. ( )
  TheJaredFrancis | Jun 23, 2019 |
review by Jackie Flowers: Jan 7, 2018

Genre: adult

Author is local and lives in Combermere, Ontario.
He is a full time artist as well.

Page turner

Good take on the apocalypse

Priest going through the war WW2

Characters are memorable

Catholic , good Christian values

Heavy on theology; may need to refer to other resources b/c some of this info.
Captivating good book that I would highly recommend. At times a little lengthy and dark in theological discussions and strong in conversion. The reactions that this book sparked in me was curiosity, anger and sadness. This book is very in keeping with Catholic doctrines. This book makes me aware to become deeper and deeper in my faith. And to pray for a brave and thankful heart in my faith during these times. ( )
  StMaryParishOttawa | Jan 7, 2018 |
This is the first book I read by him. Very intense, a fast read. There were two instances of animal cruelty which I had to skip over. ( )
  catquilt74 | Apr 16, 2017 |
I have just finished Michael D. O’Brien’s Father Elijah for the second time. I remember liking it a lot more the first time I read it, probably because it was such a revelation to me.

The book attempts to look at the second coming from a Catholic perspective. If you’ve read or heard about the Left Behind series, and wondered about the Catholic take on the end times, then Father Elijah could help answer your questions. Unfortunately, our culture is so driven by hyper-dramatic action stories, that a novel like this one goes mostly unnoticed. It is much more literary, and consequently takes more effort to read, than other more popular novels. But trust me, this one gets it right. This is a rational, believable, exploration of how the world might look shortly before Jesus comes again. It is also a rational, believable critique of the modern world.

The plot is fairly straightforward: a man has risen to become president of the European Union, and though he appears to be a great man of peace and unity, some suspect him of being the next Anti-Christ. Father Elijah, a Jewish convert to Catholicism, is asked to leave his monastery to discover the truth about this man. In doing so, Father Elijah becomes aware of sinister, demonic forces at work in the world, both inside and outside the Church.

The reason I love this novel so much has little to do with the apocalyptic story-line, though. I appreciate O’Brien’s take on modern culture and what ails it. I think he does an excellent job of exposing the intellectual fallacies and traps of our time. Also, as one who rarely travels, I was captivated by his descriptions of various places in Rome and Poland. If you are planning a visit to Italy or Poland, or if you have already been there, this aspect of the book may really appeal to you, too.

But it is the character of Father Elijah himself that really makes the book worth reading. His humility and obedience immediately set him apart from every other character in the novel, and one couldn’t ask for a greater example of priestly virtue. And though O’Brien does a fantastic job of creating sympathetic clergy, he does not shy away from Catholic characters who are ignorant, weak and self-serving.

I keep a Commonplace Book on my computer, a place where I record lines from literature that really move me, or that seem to speak strongly to me. It’s been awhile since I found anything worth copying, but I found two lines from Father Elijah that I wanted to remember. The first line echoes a theme that is prevalent in Tolkien’s works, and which also reminds me of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta:

“Accept being a little one, and He who made the universe will fill you.”

The second line comes when Father Elijah begins to despair of accomplishing his mission. One of the Vatican cardinals (I forget now which one) gives him these words:

“…I tell you that we are going to the cross. But it is not our right to hasten that day. We must work while the light lasts. We must strengthen what remains. This is the long and lonely martyrdom. It is the most difficult of all.”

“…the long and lonely martyrdom.” Sometimes life does indeed feel that way, especially when we make the difficult decision to do God’s will at the expense of our own pleasure. We may not ever have to suffer the martyrdom of blood like our brothers and sisters in the persecuted countries of Asia or the Middle East, but we are all called to be witnesses in our own way to the saving power of Christ. Father Elijah inspires us to accept that call more readily. ( )
  nsenger | Nov 6, 2016 |
Father Elijah: an Apocalypse. Michael D. O’Brien. 1996. O’Brien is a popular Catholic author, and this book is number 5 in a series of 6 books entitled Children of the Last Days. The first 4 books is a family saga which begins in the early 20th century and concludes at the end of the 20th century when all of Noth America has become a totalitarian state. Father Elijah is next in the series, and it is also set at the end of the 20th Century but it takes place primarily in Europe. Fr. Elijah, a Jewish Holocaust survivor who has become a Carmelite priest, is abruptly called to the Vatican from his monastery. The John Paul II-like pope sends Fr. Elijah on a holy mission the purpose of which is to prevent the antichrist in the guise “The President” of the European Union from forming a one-world government in which in which religion, individual governments, art, freedom and every other aspect of society is subverted to the cause of this godless one world. What is so horrifying is the charisma of the “The President” who easily fools the press and the majority of the people. Stylistically this is not a great book, but the possibility that something like this is happening or could happen is frightening. ( )
  judithrs | Dec 24, 2014 |
This is an unusual and powerful book. It’s subtitled ‘An Apocalypse’, and Michael O'Brien is not kidding. The events recounted here are indeed a looking-forward to the Last Days, and I’ve not encountered a more moving and plausible vision (excepting the Revelation of John, of course!).

O'Brien’s eponymous protagonist is a fascinating character. He’s a Holocaust survivor and Christian convert called out of monastic peace in the desert to undertake a harrowing mission: to speak the Word to the man who may be the Antichrist.

Although there is plenty of globetrotting action in this story, O'Brien does a tremendous job of illustrating how this ‘surface’ activity is just a proxy for the spiritual battle than is taking place all around. It’s fair to say, in fact, that the main character here is not really Father Elijah, but rather the Holy Spirit Himself. Not meaning to be flip, a spirit of holiness pervades this book.

End-times fiction has a bad name that’s unfortunately been warranted by some second-rate books over the years. This stellar novel helps turn the tide.

Highly recommended. ( )
2 vote mrtall | Jan 12, 2012 |
Interesting book about the apocalypse, from the perspective of a Catholic priest. The theology & spirituality is good, as is the plot....but a bit dry and slow. ( )
  cmwilson101 | Jul 18, 2010 |
Holy. O'Brien's writing bleeds holiness.

I took a chance with this book. I was browsing the religion section at "So Many Books..." in Huntsville when I saw the tell-tale band across a plain spine that marks Ignatius Press books. That along with the promise of an Apocalyptic novel that wasn't rooted in American Dispensationalism made my decision.

I've never before read a novel before that depended so heavily on dialogue. Indeed, there were times when I had to skim back to see which character was saying what line! While there are elements of a good suspense thriller here, the story is firmly rooted in theological dialogue. This was a bonus for me—it may be a frustration to others.

Since I'm reading this Roman Catholic novel from a Protestant perspective, there were (of course) elements of the theology that frustrated me. I'll never understand the importance of relics, for example. Even so, O'Brian's ingrained belief in the holiness of God and his discernment of the upside-down qualities of the Kingdom won me over. When I put this book down every evening, I went to sleep praying.

This is a good antidote for Left Behind mania. ( )
2 vote StephenBarkley | Jul 28, 2009 |
The best of Michael O'Brien's apocalyptic novels, this book reads a bit like The Da Vinci Code but is about 5 times better! A great read for Catholics who love mystery and mysticism. ( )
3 vote ElTomaso | Jun 11, 2006 |
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