Benedictus — Canticle of Zechariah (Lk 1:68-79)

Canticle pronounced by the priest Zechariah, father of St John the Baptist, at the moment when he regained his speech after nine months of muteness — a sign of his disbelief at the angel’s annunciation, exchanged for the promise fulfilled. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Zechariah blesses God for the saving visit in Jesus Christ and prophesies the mission of his son as the precursor. The Catholic Church recites this canticle every morning at Lauds of the Liturgy of the Hours — the moment when the believer, on awakening, is united to the prophecy of the messianic dawn.

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel:
because he hath visited and wrought the redemption of his people:
And hath raised up an horn of salvation to us,
in the house of David his servant:

As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets,
who are from the beginning:
Salvation from our enemies,
and from the hand of all that hate us:

To perform mercy to our fathers,
and to remember his holy testament,
The oath, which he swore to Abraham our father,
that he would grant to us,

That being delivered from the hand of our enemies, we may serve him without fear,
In holiness and justice before him, all our days.

And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest:
for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways:
To give knowledge of salvation to his people,
unto the remission of their sins:

Through the bowels of the mercy of our God,
in which the Orient from on high hath visited us:
To enlighten them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death:
to direct our feet into the way of peace.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.