Catholic Prayer: Benedictus (Canticle of Zachary)
Description:
This canticle is said at the close of Morning Prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours.
Prayer:
Blessed Be the Lord, the God of Israël, because He has visited and wrought redemption for His people. And has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of David His servant, As He promised through the mouths of His holy ones, the prophets from of old: Salvation from our enemies and from the hands of all our foes. He has fulfilled His kindness to our fathers, and has been mindful of His holy covenant. In the oath to Abraham our father, by which He swore to grant us, That, delivered from the hands of our enemies, we should serve Him without fear. In holiness and justice before Him all our days.
And thou, O child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High; for thou shalt go before the Lord to prepare His ways, To give His people knowledge of salvation through forgiveness of their sins, Because of the compassionate kindness of our God with which the Orient from on high will visit us, To shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet in the way of peace.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
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