Singing through Advent, Part Three: Benedictus – Catholic World Report
In this installment, we shall consider the second of Luke’s canticles, the Benedictus. However, like St. Luke himself, we must set the stage. Luke, a very precise historian, informs us of the exact time and place of the events we are about to read, 1 in the Temple during the reign of King Herod, when the priest Zechariah – from the family of Abijah – was on duty. Further, not only was Zechariah a priest but his wife Elizabeth likewise came from a priestly family. We learn that the two spouses were “righteous,” 3 observing all the precepts of the Law. In spite of that, they were chi...