Daily Mass - high Solemnity of the holy Forerunner, Saint John the Baptist

Mass today was offered once more for the Holy Souls, the third Mass in our novena of Masses that ends in the middle of next week. I needn't mention the great birthday today. But it would be nice to see the conclusion of the story of the birth of Saint John. Yesterday's part ended in Zechariah almost making fun of the angel's announcement to him about it, because he and his wife were both old, she well beyond the age of child-bearing. He at once lost his speech, the angel saying sternly that he would recover it when the child arrived. Fast-forward now to the great day:

"Meanwhile, Elizabeth’s time had come for her child-bearing, and she bore a son. Her neighbours and her kinsfolk, hearing how wonderfully God had shewed his mercy to her, came to rejoice with her; and now, when they assembled on the eighth day for the circumcision of the child, they were for calling him Zachary, because it was his father’s name; but his mother answered, 'No, he is to be called John.' And they said, 'There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name,' and began asking his father by signs, what name he would have him called by. So he asked for a tablet, and wrote on it the words, 'His name is John;' and they were all astonished. Then, of a sudden, his lips and his tongue were unloosed, and he broke into speech, giving praise to God;" - Gospel of S. Luke, 1: 57-64

Interestingly, Elisabeth's giving birth to a son was seen by her Jewish society as God having shown her mercy. It's nice to hear that, so alien to our present culture. According to ancient Hebrew custom, the child is taken up for circumcision and naming and they try to name him Zachary, after his father. But Elisabeth insists on the name given by the angel (the Greek-Hebrew name Yohanna has the meaning 'Adonai is gracious'), and the Church has always understood that she knew this name by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, rather than by some note from her husband, who remained dumb of speech. This is borne out by the astonishment of the people at his having thus agreed with his wife's desire; he must have lost more than the power of speech. And then the whole thing is crowned by the miracle announced by the angel, for his speech returns at once and we get the magnificent canticle of the Church: the Benedictus. Here it is, sung:

The English is below:

"Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; 

He has visited His people, and wrought their redemption. 

He has raised up a Sceptre of salvation for us 

among the posterity of His servant David,

according to the promise which He made by the lips of holy men 

that have been His prophets from the beginning; 

salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all those who hate us.

So He would carry out his merciful design towards our fathers, 

by remembering His holy Covenant.

He had sworn an oath to our father Abraham, that He would enable us

to live without fear in His service, 

delivered from the hand of our enemies,

passing all our days in holiness, and approved in His sight.

And thou, my child, wilt be known for a prophet of the most High, 

going before the Lord, to clear His way for Him;

thou wilt make known to His people the salvation 

that is to release them from their sins.

Such is the merciful kindness of our God, 

which has bidden Him come to us, like a dawning from on High,

to give light to those who live in darkness, in the shadow of death, 

and to guide our feet into the way of peace." 

- Gospel of S. Luke, 1: 68-79