Canticle of Zechariah (Blessed be the Lord) - Franciscan Sisters, TOR

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Canticle of Zechariah (Blessed be the Lord) - by Sr. Mary Gemma, TOR

Found in Luke 1:68-79, the Canticle of Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, is prayed each morning in the Liturgy of the Hours, hailing the coming of the Christ, "the dawn from on high".

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel
He has come to his people and set them free
He has raised up for us a mighty Savior,
From the house of his servant David. (to refrain)

Blessed be the Lord
The God of Israel
Hallelujah—Blessed be the Lord!

Through his holy prophets he promised of old
He would save us from our enemies,
He promised to show mercy to our fathers
And remember his holy covenant (to refrain)

He swore an oath to our father to set us free
from the hands of our enemies
Free to worship him fearless and holy in his sight
All the days of our life (to refrain)

You, my child shall be
The prophet of the Most High God
And you’ll prepare his way
To tell his people they are saved (to verse 4)

In his tender compassion the dawn shall break on us
To shine on those in darkness and death
His light will guide our feet into the way of peace
Hallelujah! Blessed be the Lord! (to refrain)