The Canticle of Zechariah immediately precedes the Birth of Jesus in the Scripture of the Liturgical Year. Zechariah, "filled with the holy Spirit, prophesied,saying":
Luke 1: 67-79
"Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,/ for he has visited and brought redemption to his people./ He has raised up a horn for our salvation/ within the house of David his servant,/ even as he promised through 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 be mindful of his holy covenant/ and of the oath he swore to Abraham our father,/ and to grant us that,/ rescued from the hand of enemies,without fear we might worship him/ in holiness and righteousness/ before him all our days./ And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High,/ for you will go before the Lord[c] to prepare his ways,/ to give his people knowledge of salvation/ through the forgiveness of their sins,/ because of the tender mercy of our God/ by which the daybreak from on high will visit us/ to shine on those who sit in darkness and death’s shadow,/ to guide our feet into the path of peace.”