Birth of John the Baptist

Saint Luke - Chapter 1

Mary with Elizabeth & Zacharias. After J-J Tissot

[56] Mansit autem Maria cum illa quasi mensibus tribus : et reversa est in domum suam.
And Mary abode with her about three months; and she returned to her own house.

[57] Elisabeth autem impletum est tempus pariendi, et peperit filium.
Now Elizabeth's full time of being delivered was come, and she brought forth a son.

[58] Et audierunt vicini et cognati ejus quia magnificavit Dominus misericordiam suam cum illa, et congratulabantur ei.
And her neighbours and kinsfolk heard that the Lord had shewed his great mercy towards her, and they congratulated with her.

[59] Et factum est in die octavo, venerunt circumcidere puerum, et vocabant eum nomine patris sui Zachariam.
And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they called him by his father's name Zachary.

[60] Et respondens mater ejus, dixit : Nequaquam, sed vocabitur Joannes.
And his mother answering, said: Not so; but he shall be called John.

[61] Et dixerunt ad illam : Quia nemo est in cognatione tua, qui vocetur hoc nomine.
And they said to her: There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.

[62] Innuebant autem patri ejus, quem vellet vocari eum.
And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.

[63] Et postulans pugillarem scripsit, dicens : Joannes est nomen ejus. Et mirati sunt universi.
And demanding a writing table, he wrote, saying: John is his name. And they all wondered.

[64] Apertum est autem illico os ejus, et lingua ejus, et loquebatur benedicens Deum.
And immediately his mouth was opened, and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.

[65] Et factus est timor super omnes vicinos eorum : et super omnia montana Judaeae divulgabantur omnia verba haec :
And fear came upon all their neighbours; and all these things were noised abroad over all the hill country of Judea.

[66] et posuerunt omnes qui audierant in corde suo, dicentes : Quis, putas, puer iste erit? etenim manus Domini erat cum illo.
And all they that had heard them laid them up in their heart, saying: What an one, think ye, shall this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him.

[67] Et Zacharias pater ejus repletus est Spiritu Sancto : et prophetavit, dicens :
And Zachary his father was filled with the Holy Ghost; and he prophesied, saying:

The Benedictus

[68] Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel, quia visitavit, et fecit redemptionem plebis suae :
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; because he hath visited and wrought the redemption of his people:

[69] et erexit cornu salutis nobis in domo David pueri sui,
And hath raised up an horn of salvation to us, in the house of David his servant:

[70] sicut locutum est per os sanctorum, qui a saeculo sunt, prophetarum ejus :
As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets, who are from the beginning:

[71] salutem ex inimicis nostris, et de manu omnium qui oderunt nos :
Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us:

[72] ad faciendam misericordiam cum patribus nostris : et memorari testamenti sui sancti :To perform mercy to our fathers, and to remember his holy testament,

[73] jusjurandum, quod juravit ad Abraham patrem nostrum, daturum se nobisThe oath, which he swore to Abraham our father, that he would grant to us,

[74] ut sine timore, de manu inimicorum nostrorum liberati, serviamus illiThat being delivered from the hand of our enemies, we may serve him without fear,

[75] in sanctitate et justitia coram ipso, omnibus diebus nostris.
In holiness and justice before him, all our days.

[76] Et tu puer, propheta Altissimi vocaberis : praeibis enim ante faciem Domini parare vias ejus,
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:

[77] ad dandam scientiam salutis plebi ejus in remissionem peccatorum eorumTo give knowledge of salvation to his people, unto the remission of their sins:

[78] per viscera misericordiae Dei nostri, in quibus visitavit nos, oriens ex alto :
Through the bowels of the mercy of our God, in which the Orient from on high hath visited us:

[79] illuminare his qui in tenebris et in umbra mortis sedent : ad dirigendos pedes nostros in viam pacis.
To enlighten them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death: to direct our feet into the way of peace.

[80] Puer autem crescebat, et confortabatur spiritu : et erat in desertis usque in diem ostensionis suae ad Israel.
And the child grew, and was strengthened in spirit; and was in the deserts until the day of his manifestation to Israel.

Totus tuus ego sum 

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum tutus semper sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam