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.
–-
Saint Zachary from Luke 1: 68 - 79
