What happened on Mount Carmel with Elijah?

Mt. Carmel was a sacred high place dedicated to the Canaanite god Baal, and there he was worshipped. In 1 Kings 18, Elijah declared a contest with 450 of his prophets to determine which “god” was real, Baal or the God of Israel. The real one would be he who could set a sacrifice on fire. The frenzy of the prophets of Baal was not successful. However, when Elijah prayed to the Lord, fire descended from heaven and lit the sacrifice.

Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt offering, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The LORD, he is God; the LORD, he is God.” (1 Kings 18:38-39)

It was on Mt. Carmel, as well, that the prayer of Elijah secured the end of the drought and famine that had befallen Israel. Thus, the Carmelites consider Elijah to be one of their spiritual fathers.