Ezekiel is one of the Old Testament prophets. The son of a priest and the priest himself, he lived in the VI century BC. Nebuchadnezzar conquering Jerusalem brought to Babylon noble people and good artisans. Among the prisoners was Ezekiel.
There, in Babylon, the gift of prophecy was revealed to a Jewish priest. He saw the future of humanity and, in particular, the Jewish people. The voice of God commanded him to preach to the people of Israel. Ezekiel predicted that after suffering punishment for apostasy from the true God, the Jews would break free from the Babylonian captivity, return to their homeland, and rebuild the Jerusalem temple.
The Prophet was visited by two significant visions. Ezekiel saw the emergence of the Church of Christ through the exploit of the Son of God, born of the Virgin Mary. The second vision was the revelation of the resurrection from the dead. Ezekiel recounted how the Lord brought him into a field full of dry bones. God's word made the bones assemble into skeletons, grow veins and flesh, and become covered with skin. The Lord explained to the priest that these bones are the people of Israel, they withered out with hope, and he ordered Ezekiel to prophesy to his people that he would bring him out of the grave captivity and bring him to the land of Israel. This prophecy of the resurrection of the dead is read in the morning on Saturday of Holy Week.
Thus, the purpose of Ezekiel's ministry was to remind the Jews of the sins that caused the people to be in a humiliating position, as well as to place faith in them in their reunification and future popular glory prosperity. He taught captives to get rid of their vices and repent by turning to God.
The book of Ezekiel contains seven prophecies that the Lord put into it, and she preaches the unity of the People of God. This book is referenced by a document of the Pontifical Council on the promotion of Christian unity.
The Catholic Church celebrates Memorial Day of the Old Testament prophet Ezekiel on July 21. On this day, baptismal rites are performed for those who decide to convert to Faith. Those who come to the Catholic Church receive absolution.
