Benedictus (Song of Zechariah)

The Benedictus (also Song of Zechariah or Canticle of Zachary), given in Gospel of ; bibleref|Mark|1:2|NIV; bibleref|Luke|3:4|NIV).

The "Benedictus" is part of Lauds, probably because of the song of thanksgiving for the coming of the Redeemer in the first part of the canticle. It is believed to have been first introduced by Benedict of Nursia. [Baumer, "Histoire du Bréviaire", I, 253.] According to Durandus, the allusion to Christ's coming under the figure of the rising sun had also some influence on its adoption. It is also used in various other liturgical offices, notably at a funeral, at the moment of interment, when words of thanksgiving for the Redemption are specially in place as an expression of Christian hope.

Text

Latin: Ordinary of the Catholic Office of Lauds (prior 1985) [ [http://breviary.net/ordinary/ordinlaud.htm Ordinary of the Catholic Office of Lauds (prior 1985)] ]

quote|:Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel; quia visitavit et fecit redemptionem plebis suæ::Et erexit cornu salutis nobis, in domo David pueri sui.:Sicut locutus est per os sanctorum, qui a sæculo sunt, prophetarum eius::Salutem ex inimicis nostris, et de manu omnium, qui oderunt nos::Ad faciendam misericordiam cum patribus nostris, et memorari testamenti sui sancti.:Iusiurandum, quod iuravit ad Abraham patrem nostrum, daturum se nobis::Ut sine timore, de manu inimicorum nostrorum liberati, serviamis illi.:In sanctitate et iustitia coram ipso, omnibus diebus nostris.:Et tu, puer, propheta Altissimi vocaberis, præibis enim ante faciem Domini parare vias eius::Ad dandam scientiam salutis plebi eius: in remissionem peccatorum eorum::Per viscera misericordiæ Dei nostri: in quibus visitavit nos, oriens ex alto::Illuminare his qui in tenebris et in umbra mortis sedent: ad dirigendos pedes nostros in viam pacis.

Latin: Ordinary of the Catholic Office of Lauds (as printed in the 1985 "editio typica altera" of Liturgia Horarum):

quote|:Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel; quia visitavit et fecit redemptionem plebi suæ::Et erexit cornu salutis nobis, in domo David pueri sui.:Sicut locutus est per os sanctorum, qui a sæculo sunt, prophetarum eius::Salutem ex inimicis nostris, et de manu omnium, qui oderunt nos::Ad faciendam misericordiam cum patribus nostris, et memorari testamenti sui sancti.:Iusiurandum, quod iuravit ad Abraham patrem nostrum, daturum se nobis::Ut sine timore, de manu inimicorum liberati, serviamis illi.:In sanctitate et iustitia coram ipso, omnibus diebus nostris.:Et tu, puer, propheta Altissimi vocaberis, præibis enim ante faciem Domini parare vias eius::Ad dandam scientiam salutis plebi eius: in remissionem peccatorum eorum::Per viscera misericordiæ Dei nostri: in quibus visitabit nos oriens ex alto::Illuminare his qui in tenebris et in umbra mortis sedent: ad dirigendos pedes nostros in viam pacis.

From the "Douay-Rheims Bible" (1582):

quote|: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.

From the "Book of Common Prayer" (1662):

quote|:Blessed be the Lord God of Israel : for He hath visited, and redeemed His people;:And hath raised up a mighty salvation for us : in the house of His servant David;:As He spake by the mouth of His holy Prophets : which have been since the world began;:That we should be saved from our enemies : and from the hands of all that hate us;:To perform the mercy promised to our forefathers : and to remember His holy covenant;:To perform the oath which He sware to our forefather Abraham : that He would give us,:That we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies : might serve Him without fear,:In holiness and righteousness before Him : all the days of our life.: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 unto His people : for the remission of their sins;:Through the tender mercy of our God : whereby the day-spring from on high hath visited us;:To give light to them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death : and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

From "The Divine Office" (1974, Grail translation):

quote|:Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel! :He has visited his people and redeemed them.

:He has raised up for us a mighty saviour :in the house of David his servant,:as he promised by the lips of holy men, :those who were his prophets from of old.

:A saviour who would free us from our foes, :from the hands of all who hate us.:So his love for our fathers is fulfilled :and his holy covenant remembered.

:He swore to Abraham our father to grant us, :that free from fear, and saved from the hands of our foes, :we might serve him in holiness and justice :all the days of our life in his presence.

:As for you, little child, :you shall be called a prophet of God, the Most High.:You shall go ahead of the Lord :to prepare his ways before him,

:To make known to his people their salvation :through forgiveness of all their sins,:the loving-kindness of the heart of our God :who visits us like the dawn from on high.

:He will give light to those who dwell in darkness, :those who dwell in the shadow of death, :and guide us into the way of peace.

From "Common Worship" (2000):

quote|:Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel:who has come to His people and set them free.

:He has raised up for us a mighty Saviour,:born of the house of His servant David.

:Through His holy prophets God promised of old:to save us from our enemies, from the hands of all that hate us,

:To show mercy to our ancestors,:and to remember His holy covenant.

:This was the oath God swore to our father Abraham::to set us free from the hands of our enemies,

:Free to worship Him without fear,:holy and righteous in His sight all the days of our life.

:And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,:for you will go before the Lord to prepare His way,

:To give His people knowledge of salvation:by the forgiveness of all their sins.

:In the tender compassion of our God:the dawn from on high shall break upon us,

:To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,:and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

References

External links

* [http://www.catholicity.com/encyclopedia/b/benedictus.html Benedictus] in "Catholic Encyclopedia"
* [http://www.cofe.anglican.org/worship/liturgy/bcp/texts/mpep/morning.html Order for Morning Prayer] in the "Book of Common Prayer"