Chapter 9 - Canticles, Litanies & Benedictions
A Morning Hymn of Praise and Prophecy
The Canticle of Zachariah, also known by its opening word Benedíctus, is a profound prayer of thanksgiving and prophecy, drawn from the Gospel of St. Luke (1:68–79). It is traditionally recited during Lauds (Morning Prayer) in the Divine Office and was lovingly preserved by the Church in her liturgical life for centuries.
For true Catholics, who hold fast to the unchanging Faith handed down before the apostasy of Vatican II, this canticle holds immense value. It proclaims the coming of the Messias, the fulfillment of God's covenant with Israel, and the divine mission of St. John the Baptist—to prepare the way for the Lord. In a time when the modernist Vatican II sect has abandoned the clarity of prophecy, the reality of sin, and the need for conversion, the Benedictus is a beautiful reaffirmation of God’s eternal plan of salvation through Jesus Christ.
Every phrase reflects the truths once universally believed by all Catholics: the redemption through Christ, the sanctity of God's covenant, the need for penance, and the glory of divine mercy. It is a prayer of hope, fidelity, and restoration, especially for those resisting the counterfeit church of Vatican II.
1. The Benedictus
Latin:
Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel, quia visitavit et fecit redemptionem plebis suae,
et erexit cornu salutis nobis in domo David pueri sui,
sicut locutus est per os sanctorum, qui a saeculo 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, serviamus illi,
in sanctitate et iustitia coram ipso omnibus diebus nostris.
Et tu, puer, propheta Altissimi vocaberis: praeibis enim ante faciem Domini parare vias eius,
ad dandam scientiam salutis plebi eius in remissionem peccatorum eorum,
per viscera misericordiae 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.
English Translation:
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people,
and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David,
as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old,
salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,
to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,
the oath which He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us,
that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear,
in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.
And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways,
to give His people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
through the tender mercy of our God, by which the dawn from on high will visit us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.
📌 Key Notes:
"Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel" (Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel)
"Cornu salutis" (horn of salvation) symbolizes a powerful savior.
"Oriens ex alto" (the dawn from on high) refers to the Messiah bringing light to those in darkness.
2. Pronunciation Guide
Here is a word-by-word pronunciation breakdown using Ecclesiastical Latin:
Benedictus - Pronunciation Guide
| Latin Word/Phrase | Phonetic Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel | beh-neh-DEEK-toos DOH-mee-noos DEH-oos EES-rah-el | Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel |
| quia visitavit et fecit redemptionem plebis suae | KWEE-ah vee-see-TAH-veet et FEH-keet reh-dehmp-SYOH-nem PLEH-bees SOO-ah-eh | for he has visited and brought redemption to his people |
| et erexit cornu salutis nobis | et eh-REH-keet KOR-noo sah-LOO-tees NOH-bees | and has raised up a horn of salvation for us |
| in domo David pueri sui | in DOH-moh DAH-veed PWEE-eh-ree SOO-ee | in the house of his servant David |
| sicut locutus est per os sanctorum | SEE-koot loh-KOO-toos est per os sahnk-TOH-room | as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets |
| qui a saeculo sunt, prophetarum eius | kwee ah SEH-koo-loh soont, proh-feh-TAH-room EH-yoos | who have been from of old, his prophets |
| salutem ex inimicis nostris | sah-LOO-tehm eks ee-nee-MEE-kees NOS-trees | salvation from our enemies |
| et de manu omnium qui oderunt nos | et deh MAH-noo OM-nee-oom kwee oh-DEH-roont nos | and from the hand of all who hate us |
| ad faciendam misericordiam cum patribus nostris | ahd fah-chee-EN-dahm mee-seh-ree-KOR-dee-ahm koom PAH-tree-boos NOS-trees | to show mercy to our fathers |
| et memorari testamenti sui sancti | et meh-mo-RAH-ree teh-stah-MEN-tee SOO-ee SANK-tee | and to remember his holy covenant |
| iusiurandum, quod iuravit ad Abraham | yoo-see-oo-RAN-doom, kwod yoo-RAH-veet ahd AH-brah-ham | the oath that he swore to Abraham |
| patrem nostrum, daturum se nobis | PAH-trem NOS-troom, dah-TOO-room seh NOH-bees | our father, to grant us |
| ut sine timore, de manu inimicorum liberati | oot SEE-neh tee-MOH-reh, deh MAH-noo ee-nee-mee-KOH-room lee-beh-RAH-tee | that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, may serve him |
| serviamus illi in sanctitate et iustitia | ser-vee-AH-moos EEL-lee een sank-tee-TAH-teh et yoos-TEE-tee-ah | without fear, in holiness and righteousness |
| coram ipso omnibus diebus nostris | KOH-rahm EEP-soh OM-nee-boos dee-EH-boos NOS-trees | before him all the days of our life |
📌 Key Pronunciation Notes:
Benedictus (beh-neh-DEEK-toos) – Stress on "DEEK", meaning "Blessed".
Redemptionem (reh-dehmp-SYOH-nem) – "TIO" is pronounced "SYOH", meaning "redemption".
Cornu salutis (KOR-noo sah-LOO-tees) – "Cornu" means "horn", referring to power and salvation.
Saeculo (SEH-koo-loh) – "AE" is pronounced "EH", meaning "from of old".
Prophetarum (pro-feh-TAH-room) – "PH" sounds like "F", meaning "of the prophets".
Testamenti (teh-stah-MEN-tee) – "E" is short, meaning "covenant" or "testament".
Iusiurandum (yoo-see-oo-RAN-doom) – "IUS" sounds like "YOO", meaning "oath".
Liberati (lee-beh-RAH-tee) – "TI" before a vowel is "TSEE", meaning "set free".
Dirigendos (dee-ree-JEHN-dos) – "G" before "E" sounds like "J", meaning "to guide".
Pacis (PAH-chees) – "C" before "I" is pronounced "CH", meaning "peace".
✅ Practice Tip: Slowly say each word aloud several times, ensuring correct pronunciation.
3. Videos
LATIN: Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel, quia visitavit et fecit redemptionem plebis suae, et erexit cornu salutis nobis in domo David pueri sui, sicut locutus est per os sanctorum, qui a saeculo 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, serviamus illi in sanctitate et iustitia coram ipso omnibus diebus nostris. Et tu, puer, propheta Altissimi vocaberis: praeibis enim ante faciem Domini parare vias eius, ad dandam scientiam salutis plebi eius in remissionem peccatorum eorum, per viscera misericordiae 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.
PHONETIC: Beh-neh-DEEK-toos DOH-mee-noos DEH-oos EES-rah-el, KWEE-ah vee-see-TAH-veet et FEH-keet reh-dehmp-SYOH-nem PLEH-bees SOO-ah-eh, et eh-REH-keet KOR-noo sah-LOO-tees NOH-bees in DOH-moh DAH-veed PWEE-eh-ree SOO-ee, SEE-koot loh-KOO-toos est per os sahnk-TOH-room, kwee ah SEH-koo-loh soont, proh-feh-TAH-room EH-yoos, sah-LOO-tehm eks ee-nee-MEE-kees NOS-trees et deh MAH-noo OM-nee-oom kwee oh-DEH-roont nos; ahd fah-chee-EN-dahm mee-seh-ree-KOR-dee-ahm koom PAH-tree-boos NOS-trees, et meh-mo-RAH-ree teh-stah-MEN-tee SOO-ee SANK-tee, yoo-see-oo-RAN-doom, kwod yoo-RAH-veet ahd AH-brah-ham PAH-trem NOS-troom, dah-TOO-room seh NOH-bees, oot SEE-neh tee-MOH-reh, deh MAH-noo ee-nee-mee-KOH-room lee-beh-RAH-tee, ser-vee-AH-moos EEL-lee een sank-tee-TAH-teh et yoos-TEE-tee-ah KOH-rahm EEP-soh OM-nee-boos dee-EH-boos NOS-trees. Et too, PWEH-er, proh-FEH-tah AHL-tee-SEE-mee voh-KAH-beh-rees: prae-EE-bees EH-neem AHN-teh FAH-kee-em DOH-mee-noo par-AH-reh VEE-ahs EH-yoos, ahd DAHN-dahm see-en-TEE-ahm sah-LOO-tees PLEH-bee EH-yoos in reh-mee-see-OH-nem pek-kah-TOH-room EH-yo-room, per VEES-cheh-rah mee-seh-ree-KOR-dee-ah DEH-ee NOS-tree, een KWEH-boos vee-see-TAH-veet nos OH-ree-ens eks AHL-toh, ee-loo-mee-NAH-reh ees, kwee een teh-NEH-brees et een OOM-brah MOR-tees SEH-dehnt, ahd dee-ree-JEHN-dos PEH-des NOS-tros een VEE-ahm PAH-chees.
LATIN: Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel, quia visitavit et fecit redemptionem plebis suae, et erexit cornu salutis nobis in domo David pueri sui, sicut locutus est per os sanctorum, qui a saeculo 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, serviamus illi in sanctitate et iustitia coram ipso omnibus diebus nostris. Et tu, puer, propheta Altissimi vocaberis: praeibis enim ante faciem Domini parare vias eius, ad dandam scientiam salutis plebi eius in remissionem peccatorum eorum, per viscera misericordiae 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. PHONETIC: Beh-neh-DEEK-toos DOH-mee-noos DEH-oos EES-rah-el, KWEE-ah vee-see-TAH-veet et FEH-keet reh-dehmp-SYOH-nem PLEH-bees SOO-ah-eh, et eh-REH-keet KOR-noo sah-LOO-tees NOH-bees in DOH-moh DAH-veed PWEE-eh-ree SOO-ee, SEE-koot loh-KOO-toos est per os sahnk-TOH-room, kwee ah SEH-koo-loh soont, proh-feh-TAH-room EH-yoos, sah-LOO-tehm eks ee-nee-MEE-kees NOS-trees et deh MAH-noo OM-nee-oom kwee oh-DEH-roont nos; ahd fah-chee-EN-dahm mee-seh-ree-KOR-dee-ahm koom PAH-tree-boos NOS-trees, et meh-mo-RAH-ree teh-stah-MEN-tee SOO-ee SANK-tee, yoo-see-oo-RAN-doom, kwod yoo-RAH-veet ahd AH-brah-ham PAH-trem NOS-troom, dah-TOO-room seh NOH-bees, oot SEE-neh tee-MOH-reh, deh MAH-noo ee-nee-mee-KOH-room lee-beh-RAH-tee, ser-vee-AH-moos EEL-lee een sank-tee-TAH-teh et yoos-TEE-tee-ah KOH-rahm EEP-soh OM-nee-boos dee-EH-boos NOS-trees. Et too, PWEH-er, proh-FEH-tah AHL-tee-SEE-mee voh-KAH-beh-rees: prae-EE-bees EH-neem AHN-teh FAH-kee-em DOH-mee-noo par-AH-reh VEE-ahs EH-yoos, ahd DAHN-dahm see-en-TEE-ahm sah-LOO-tees PLEH-bee EH-yoos in reh-mee-see-OH-nem pek-kah-TOH-room EH-yo-room, per VEES-cheh-rah mee-seh-ree-KOR-dee-ah DEH-ee NOS-tree, een KWEH-boos vee-see-TAH-veet nos OH-ree-ens eks AHL-toh, ee-loo-mee-NAH-reh ees, kwee een teh-NEH-brees et een OOM-brah MOR-tees SEH-dehnt, ahd dee-ree-JEHN-dos PEH-des NOS-tros een VEE-ahm PAH-chees.
4. When to Use the Prayer in Daily Life
The Benedictus is a central prayer in Traditional Catholic Morning Prayer and has been recited daily by monks, priests, and lay Catholics for centuries. Integrating it into your daily life aligns your prayer habits with traditional Catholic practice and deepens your connection to the liturgical life of the Church.
Praying the Benedictus in Lauds (Morning Prayer)
The Benedictus is recited daily during Lauds in the Divine Office (Liturgy of the Hours).
Traditional monastic communities, priests, and religious orders begin their day with this canticle.
Lay Catholics can follow this practice by praying it each morning after waking up.
Incorporating the Benedictus into Personal Morning Prayer
After morning prayers such as the Sign of the Cross, Our Father, and Hail Mary, recite the Benedictus.
This follows the traditional structure of the Divine Office, which begins with psalms and canticles.
Chanting the Benedictus in Latin
The Gregorian chant version of the Benedictus has been sung in monasteries for over a thousand years.
Learning the chant and singing it each morning enriches prayerful meditation and devotion.
Praying the Benedictus Before Reading Scripture
Because the canticle is deeply scriptural, it can be recited before reading the Bible, particularly before the Gospel of Luke.
This prepares the heart to receive God’s Word with gratitude and faith.
Using the Benedictus as an Act of Thanksgiving
The Benedictus is a prayer of gratitude, thanking God for His faithfulness, redemption, and mercy.
It can be prayed after morning Mass or Holy Communion to express gratitude for Christ’s coming and saving work.
Praying the Benedictus for Deliverance from Evil
Since the Benedictus mentions freedom from enemies, it can be recited in times of spiritual struggle, temptation, or persecution.
Many saints prayed this canticle in times of distress, recognizing God’s protection and guidance.
Teaching the Benedictus to Children
In traditional Catholic homes, the Benedictus is taught to children as part of morning prayers.
Parents can introduce this canticle as a daily hymn of praise, helping children grow in love for scripture.
Reciting the Benedictus During Advent
The Benedictus is particularly relevant during Advent, as it foretells the coming of John the Baptist and the Messiah.
It can be recited daily during Advent and Christmas as a meditation on God’s plan of salvation.
Using the Benedictus in Family Prayer or Rosary Devotion
Families can recite or chant the Benedictus together after praying the Morning Offering or the Angelus.
It can be included in family Rosary devotions, especially on the Joyful Mysteries when reflecting on the Visitation.
📌 Summary: How to Make the Benedictus Part of Daily Life
✔ Pray the Benedictus each morning after waking up.
✔ Recite it during Lauds (Morning Prayer) as part of the Divine Office.
✔ Chant the Benedictus to follow the monastic tradition.
✔ Use it as a thanksgiving prayer after Mass or Communion.
✔ Recite it before reading Scripture to reflect on God’s promises.
✔ Pray it in times of temptation or distress, seeking God’s protection.
✔ Teach it to children as part of their daily prayers.
✔ Pray it during Advent as a preparation for Christ’s coming.
✔ Include it in family prayer or Rosary devotions.
By incorporating the Benedictus into your morning prayers, Mass devotions, and daily thanksgiving, you will align your spiritual life with traditional Catholic practice and immerse yourself in the scriptural and liturgical treasures of the Church.
7. Lesson Summary
The Canticle of Zachariah is a powerful hymn of thanksgiving and prophecy, honoring the coming of the Redeemer and the role of St. John the Baptist. For faithful Catholics who reject the Vatican II heresies, it serves as a daily reminder of God’s mercy, His promises to the Fathers, and the call to holiness in the midst of apostasy.
8. Final Thought – Why Does This Prayer Matter?
In an age of apostasy, when the Vatican II sect has replaced conversion with dialogue, penance with inclusivity, and Catholic truth with ecumenical ambiguity, the Benedictus shines like a beacon of fidelity. It reminds us of God's unbreakable covenant, the divine mission of the Church, and the preaching of repentance—all of which have been betrayed by the false shepherds of the post-conciliar revolution.
When we pray this canticle, we align ourselves not with the new humanist religion of Vatican II, but with the prophets, martyrs, and saints who looked forward to and proclaimed the coming of the true Light—Jesus Christ, the only Redeemer. We join our voices with Holy Mother Church as she existed before the modernist corruption, echoing the gratitude of Zachariah and the triumph of God’s mercy.
The Benedictus matters because it is a profession of authentic faith, a rejection of the counterfeit church, and a call to remain firm in the tradition and truth that cannot be redefined or suppressed. In the chaos of our time, it re-centers the soul on Christ, the Cross, and the Covenant—the heart of true Catholicism.
“Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel, quia visitavit et fecit redemptionem plebis suae…”
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