canticle of zechariah explained canticle of zechariah explained

and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David While nations and kingdoms rise and fall, and principalities and powers come and go, Gods Word is sovereign over all generations. Your fondness of this rich text is clear. In this phrase it is as though emotional intelligence were a different form of intelligence, so that the notion of intelligence has become a metaphor or, worse, merely an empty cipher. John told the people to repent of their sins, and thats all well and good. In keeps us mentally and spiritually in the viscera, in the guts of Gods mercy. On a practical lesson that means you should replace that Canticle with a different one in Morning Prayer today; prior Prayer Book tradition recommends the Jubilate, Psalm Zechariah, filled with Holy Spirit, sang this canticle, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has come and redeemed His people. Through the holy prophets God promised of old to. John will be before the Lord both as a harbinger and attitudinally. A number of other Christian churches also use this song, though it's mostly in English. Little wonder their hope lay in the promise of a Savior from on high, who would set them free, once and for all; a king whose kingdom would be forever. It is sung by Zechariah (Zachary) in thanks to God for the birth of his son, John the Baptist. She must either betray the content & meaning (possibly even mangling the beauty of the original language), or she must betray the language that she is translating to. A fairly literal translation accompanies each line. till Thy mercys beams I see; Therell be other topics to talk about tomorrow. 21:10). in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. The Benedictus (also Song of Zechariah or Canticle of Zachary), given in Gospel of Luke 1:68-79, is one of the three canticles in the first two chapters of this Gospel, the other two being the "Magnificat" and the "Nunc dimittis".The Benedictus was the song of thanksgiving uttered by Zechariah on the occasion of the circumcision of his son, John the Baptist. International Commission on English in the Liturgy, Pope John Paul II, "Reflection on Canticle of Zechariah", General Audience, October 1, 2003, http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02473a.htm, http://biblehub.com/commentaries/pulpit/luke/1.htm, Neovulgate (official text of the Roman Catholic Church), http://www.eskimo.com/~lhowell/bcp1662/daily/morning.html. Click here for more information. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Satisfy us with your love in the morning, And we will live this day in joy and praise. Come, Let Us Adore Him! The incantatory quality of the phrase raises the spectre that such worship may be unthinking, may unreflectively reify and uphold an authority through adoration, devotion, and blind adherence. Joyless is the days return Todays pericope also includes this verse about John the Baptist saying: 80 The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel.u. That it should be given to us, daturum se nobis, shifts attention from the past to the future and to us. Copyright 2013, Philip McLarty. Joy to the World. Today, it is used in the Lauds of the Divine Office of the Catholic Church to be sung during morning prayers. but the word of our God stands forever. You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, to give his people knowledge of salvation. One cannot really say enlighten, because that word now has a thin, enfeebled meaning. This raises two fundamental questions for us today: Who are our enemies? Hymn Lists. $2.65. to remember his holy covenant, The first (verses 6875) is a song of thanksgiving for the realization of the Messianic hopes of the Jewish nation; but to such realization is given a characteristically Christian tone. Some will happen in the near time, but the more complete fulfillment will come when Messiah returns to earth to judge and rule and bless. The meditation proceeds line by line, and usually phrase by phrase. The day, after all, begins with the vigil of the night before. It is one of the canticles in the Anglican service of Morning Prayer (or Matins) according to the Book of Common Prayer, where it is sung or said after the second (New Testament) lesson, unless Psalm 100 ("Jubilate Deo") is used instead. Blest be the God of Israel who comes to set us free and raises up a new hope for us: a Branch from David's tree. His father Zechariah was filled with the . It is the Benedictus, the Canticle intoned by Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, when the birth of that son changed . 1:76-79 Who is it that goes before the Lord to prepare his people? Over 3,000 Catholic prayers sorted by topic/keyword. They were captives in Egypt for over four hundred years. He has done so by liberating us from the hand of our enemies: de manu inimicorum liberati. 73 and of the oath he swore to Abraham our father,p and to grant us that, 74 rescued from the hand of enemies, without fear we might worship him, 75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.q, 76 And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord*to prepare his ways,r. How much more meaning does this verse have if you image that God is quietly whispering in your ear? I am so thankful that I happened to find your resouces on the internet. Zechariah is telling us that God sets his people free by the birth of the Messiah. Reflection on the Canticle of Mary actually ought to precede that on the Canticle of Zechariah. In the quiet, God is still at work. He has redeemed them, whatever that means. , , . Lauds, designed to be recited immediately after midnight, expresses the sentiments of a soul that entered the world in the sight of God and of His Perfections. Born of the house of His servant David. This is tricky terrain. It is believed to have been first introduced by Benedict of Nursia. I will speak against those who cheat employees of their wages, who oppress widows and orphans, or who deprive the foreigners living among you . 1. I think every good translator tries to carefully walk the tightrope of simultaneously doing justice to meaning, beauty, syntax, etc. Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel, quia visitavit et fecit redemptionem plebi suae, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and made redemption for his people. (Mind, you. There is something about the . The Benedictus was used as a hymn beginning in the 4th century in both Eastern and Western liturgies. They do not disappear into a black void, like some pod released from a spacecraft (still perhaps out there somewhere, perhaps to return in a sequel as some alien). Today we want to find out why Zechariah is praising the Lord God of Israel so, what his song is saying, and how Zechariah's song can be our song, too. Ezra 5:1 says that he was the son of Iddo. CHAPTER 1. Luke writes, Paul, having passed through the upper country, Yet it is also true that only as our hearts are turned again and again to Christ, converted to him, can we learn to walk in the way of peace. Both kinds of darkness are at play here. Chapter 9 starts with an oracle against an area that extends from up north in modern-day Syria down through the Mediterranean coast near Israel. Corrections? Here, it is the east that is functioning metonymically, that is, as a part that represents the whole, which is the mercy of God, salvation, God himself (which returns us to the ambiguity of the genitive in the common phrase mercy of God). Dei nostri recalls earlier references to our God, and brings close again the God who momentarily withdrew in the previous line, when he became the God of his people (plebi eius), leaving the reader or auditor perhaps momentarily wondering if he or she shares in that identity. The story for this canticle comes from Luke 1:6879. This Canticle is in fact, recited or sung as a night prayer during the Office of Compline, before our night rest, in accordance with the Catholic liturgy of the Hours.In some translations, the canticle is spelled Canticle of Symeon. 1. This is no small matter. They said, Into Johns baptism. Its salvation for plebi eius, his people, whoever they may be. I am eager to witness against all sorcerers and adulterers and liars. They rest on one cardinal principle: You cant have it both ways. The Benedictus was the song of thanksgiving uttered by Zechariah on the occasion of the circumcision of his son, John the Baptist.[1]. I include it here, for your benefit, and will also offer my comments alongside the verses of the canticle. The "Benedictus" Canticle of Zechariah in Latin, English Translation of the "Sanctus" Text, Learn the "Agnus Dei" in Latin With English Translation, "Un bel di, vedremo" Text and Translation, A Guide to the Complete English Translation of the "Gloria", 'Casta Diva' Lyrics, Translation, and History, Lyrics of the 'Rigoletto' Aria 'Questa O Quello', Lyrics and Translation of "Addio Del Passato" From "La Traviata", "Alma Redemptoris Mater" Lyrics and Translation, B.A., Classical Music and Opera, Westminster Choir College of Rider University. He had been struck dumb. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. And there is hope for all people: for each one of us. Title: Canticle of Zechariah (Luke 1:68-79) Original Language: 1 In the second year of Darius, * in the eighth month, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah, son of Berechiah, son of Iddo: 2 The LORD was very angry with your ancestors. It is based on the Latin, which I wanted to memorize for the historical influence of the text, but the Latin is so . Through his holy prophets he promised of old. Nevertheless, I am comfortable saying that I prefer one translation to another.). Through his holy prophets he promised of old. I always look forward to receivng your sermon helps they are WONDERFUL! The saints have borne witness to the beneficent plans of God throughout the ages. In the house of David His servant, He has raised up for us a victorious Saviour; as He promised through His prophets of old, salvation from our enemies and from the hand of our foes.". This is why Christian churches in the West are pointed to the east. First Line: Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, For he hath visited and redeemed his people. Their glory days under David and Solomon were a brief exception to a recurring pattern of dispersion and exile. zechariah holy. It begins in the people of Israel, called by God from the time of Israel, with whom he established a covenant so that they may be a blessing to all people, and to all of creation. 70 even as he promised through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old: 71 salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,m, 72 to show mercy to our fathersn and to be mindful of his holy covenanto. that he would save us from our enemies, Now, as then, there are any number of people with strong convictions and persuasive abilities. Catholic Online School - Free education with 1,000,000 student enrollments. It is sung by Zechariah (Zachary) in thanks to God for the birth of his son, John the Baptist. Its a short intro, but packed with meaning. It may also be used as a canticle in the Lutheran service of Matins. You have provided a great sermon for the Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany. May it speak to each of us and lead us to new life in Christ. Add to Cart Buy Now. At long, long, last God is giving His people the Messiah who will do away with hatred, darkness, and death, and bring holiness and righteousness to humanity and who will give us the gifts of light, of life, and of peace. And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High. from the hands of all who hate us. Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is Copyright 2009-2022, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. (left: Relaxing with Bigsby, our wonderful St. Bernard). I find this translation more poetic, more beautiful. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. to guide our feet into the way of peace.. As we confess our salvation, we stand in this his work of making mercy, this tradition. Cookie policy. All of the Lords ways are the way of peace. Check out our canticle of zechariah selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. I want to reflect more on this. (At some level, we cannot help but to bear such witness). Your email address will not be published. Augustine said it well: Let us so seek as if we were about to find, and so find as if we were about to seek. Childrens Sermons The following is a reflection on the Canticle of Zechariah (Luke 2:68-79), which one says as part of Morning Prayer. Hope and Healing after Abortion. Even apart from the enemies from whom and from which we have been freed, we would have no idea of what freedom looks like except through our response to our Creator and participation in life. Paul ran across a group of Christians like this in Ephesus. By the forgiveness of their sins. Like a melody in a musical overture, Zechariah's prophecy hints at things to come, while reflecting refrains from long before. Nonetheless, if one wants to make sense of the Latin, theres work to be done. We had no other option, no neutral life; to serve illi as slaves is only right and just, yet still a privilege and an honour, given that he is the Lord of life, the Creator whose service is perfect freedom. he has come to his people and set them free. The meditation proceeds line by line, and usually phrase by phrase. pierce the gloom of sin and grief; Dark and cheerless is the morn (1) The prophet and his times. If ever one wanted to turn to the commentary tradition (which is not really the point of this little exercise in close reading), it would be now. This setting begins majestically with optional trumpet and timpani and an opening statement of the . Itll be personal opinion based on the news of the day. At the same time, to identify with the Church as part of the people of God is to acknowledge that those who do not so identify themselves in some way and to a certain extent identify with those who hate us, because they hate God. The guts of mercy are not our guts. The Baptism of the Lord. . save us from our enemies, from the hands of all who hate us, to show mercy to our forbears, and to remember his holy covenant. According to Zechariah 1:1, his first message ( Zech 1-6) dates to the second year of Darius (520 BC), and according to 7:1, his second message ( Zech 7-8) dates to Darius's fourth year (518 BC). salutem ex inimicis nostris, et de manu omnium, qui oderunt nos. From the DouayRheims Bible (Challoner Revision):[5]. The history of the people of Israel is filled with long periods of subjection and slavery. Catholic Online Prayers - thousands of prayers. from the hands of all who hate us. Inspired by the Spirit, Zechariah sees that day coming. The Privileges of Discipleship (Luke 10:23-28), Return of the seventy [-two] (Luke 10:17-20), Reproaches to Unrepentant Towns (Luke 10:13-16), The Mission of the Seventy-two (Luke 10:1-12), The Healing of a Centurions Slave (Luke 7:1-9), The Preaching of John the Baptist (Lk 3:1-20), The Boy Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:41-52), The Question about Fasting (Luke 5:32-39), The Purpose of the Parables (Luke 8:9-10), Departure for Jerusalem; Samaritan Inhospitality (Luke 9:51-56), The Call of Simon the Fisherman (Luke 5:1-11). This oath doesnt just apply to Zechariah and the Jews, but it applies to you and me too. He said to them, Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? Further along, the promise that the east will visit (visitabit) us in the entrails of mercy echoes the opening line. in sanctitate et iustitia coram ipso omnibus diebus nostris. 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. Were not quite there yet, though. The seasoned Anglican, or other tradition of Christianity also steeped in liturgy, will have an interesting experience this morning: the Canticle of Zechariah is in the New Testament Lesson! Sermons But God will protect Jerusalem in that day. In context, it sounds like this illumination is specified for those who lie in darkness and in the shadow of death, as if there were others who do not. illuminare his qui in tenebris et in umbra mortis sedent, ad dirigendos pedes nostros in viam pacis. In this construction, we are not only saved out of the hand of those who hate us: we are saved out of the hands of all, and the all are characterized as those who hate us, qui oderunt nos. saying to the people that they should believe in the one who would come after him, They are placed not amongst the psalms (as are the seven from the Old Testament), but separated from them by the Chapter, the Hymn, the Versicle and . The phrasing is ambiguous. Be courageous. It falls into two parts: The first praising God for the promise of redemption; the second, prophesying the role of John the Baptist to prepare the way for the coming of the Promised Messiah. for he has visited and redeemed his people; First we had a reminder of who had spoken of the visiting, the making, and the raising; now we have, in a nutshell, what it is they were speaking of: salutem, salvation, specifically salvation from our enemies, and from all who hate us. Paul said, John indeed baptized with the baptism of repentance, Through his holy prophets he promised of old. Through His holy prophets He promised of old That He would save us from our enemies, From the hands of all who hate . And what is our ultimate goal? Scholarly disputes regarding the origin of this canticle have suggested three possible composers: Zechariah, St. Luke, and followers of St. John the Baptist. It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. Whereas earlier plebi suae seemed to refer relatively unambiguously to Israel, (though a good Pauline theology has probably enlarged the readers understanding of Israel), the second reference to plebi more strongly urges the emphasis on the Saviour as the giver of the identity of the people. in holiness and righteousness all the days of our lives. A message against an area that extends from modern-day Syria down through the Mediterranean coast to Israel. Zechariah dates the first part of his prophecy in reference to the reign of Darius. Frequency of use. Canticle of Zechariah. One doesnt need to know much Latin to appreciate the effect here. . and of the oath he swore to Abraham our father. Add to Wish List Add to Compare. The following versioncomes from the International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL) of the Roman Catholic Church. The prophet used a simple structure of eight visions ( Zechariah 1:1-6:15 ), four messages (7:1-8:23 . Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; because he hath visited and wrought the redemption of His people: Blessed be the Lord God of Israel: for he hath visited, and redeemed his people; This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain:Herbermann, Charles, ed. A Summary of Zechariah: Burden 1. June 24, 2007. (1913). "The Benedictus (Canticle of Zachary)". This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Benedictus-biblical-canticle, The Catholic Encyclopedia - The Benedictus. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner. came to Ephesus, and found certain disciples. And, I said, today we would start to know what that something is. Canticle of Zechariah (Downloadable Choral Score) - file_50-1087-E *Downloadable choral octavo minimum order quantity is 6. Benedictus, also called Song of Zechariah, New Testament hymn of praise and thanksgiving sung by Zechariah, a Jewish priest of the line of Aaron, on the occasion of the circumcision and naming of his son, St. John the Baptist. Regardless of who the enemies are, we can work in the world, can live, and move, and have our being, without fear. Now, in this latter phrase, where the oriens ex alto stands in for the visitation of God in Christ, the illumination and the directing of our feet in the way of peace would seem more naturally to refer to the work of Christ in the first instance. for you will go before the Lord to prepare the way, to give God's people knowledge of salvation. The alliterative /d/, with its direct, definite, and somewhat dark associations -dictus; Dominus; Deus asserts the preeminence of the God of Israel. Fill me, Radiancy divine, Pogo speaks for us all: As we stand on the threshold of Christmas, we need to be reminded that we are the ones who need to be delivered from the shackles of sin and death. You become a new creation. and prophesied (Luke 1:67). He has raised up for us a mighty Saviour, Born of the house of His servant David. By Dr. Philip W. McLarty. Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Epiphany "Lessons". by the forgiveness of their sins. . Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). You will go before my Son to prepare his way by preaching the Gospel the good news of salvation.In a sense, we all Share Johns prophetic ministry to prepare the way for Christ in the world. The Messiah and his Forerunner. In his silence, he had reversed his cynical . From the hands of all who hate us. canticle, (from Latin canticulum, diminutive of canticum, "song"), a scriptural hymn text that is used in various Christian liturgies and is similar to a psalm in form and content but appears apart from the book of Psalms. Sine timore, without fear. Good Christian Friends, Rejoice. The Benedictus (also Song of Zechariah or Canticle of Zachary), given in Gospel of Luke 1:6879, is one of the three canticles in the first two chapters of this Gospel, the other two being the "Magnificat" and the "Nunc dimittis". They said to him, No, we havent even heard that there is a Holy Spirit. More and more Thyself display, 4 Do not be like your ancestors to . One was an Old Testament prophet who prophesied in the days of Haggai and who wrote the book of Zechariah ( Ezra 5:1; Zechariah 1:1 ). At best, itll be well informed and contain a measure of truth, but its not likely to have a long shelf life. Benedictus. to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death. He has raised up a horn for our salvation. More specifically, we can serve illi, that one. There are three possible explanations. Having reached the end of our long journey through the Psalms and Canticles of the Liturgy of Lauds, let us pause to consider the prayer that marks the Office of Lauds every morning. You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High; Again, this is verse should grab your attention. 11 Jan. 2014, "Neovulgate (official text of the Roman Catholic Church)", Pope John Paul II, "Reflection on Canticle of Zechariah", General Audience, October 1, 2003, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Benedictus_(canticle)&oldid=1094366808, Articles incorporating a citation from the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia with Wikisource reference, Articles incorporating text from the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia with Wikisource reference, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 22 June 2022, at 05:29. FOREST GREEN is an English folk tune associated with the ballad "The Ploughboy's Dream." Ralph Vaughan Williams (PHH 316) turned FOREST GREEN into a hymn tune for The English Hymnal (1906), using it as a setting for "O Little Town of Bethlehem." Shaped in rounded bar form (AABA), FOREST GREEN has th. The context enfolds the discussion of salvation, and so points to Jesus primarily as the antitype (the one to whom all biblical types or foreshadowings point) of all promises and all gifts. A 7th grade class shares the Canticle of Zechariah. holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life. I have no credentials to criticize their translation. The cadence of the phrasing, and especially that of the last three words, conveys the sense of repeated action in lasting security. The darkness of God is the source of our forgiveness and our salvation. He wasnt asking for pity, he was calling on his team to steel themselves for action. Todays reading is the Canticle of Zechariah. (Acts 19:1-6). He has raised up for us a mighty Saviour, Born of the house of His servant David. Yes, thats right; we are prophets too. All Rights Reserved | 1997-2023 Richard Niell Donovan. to shine on those who dwell in the darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace. [1], The Pulpit Commentary refers to a belief that the Benedictus was "first introduced into the public worship of the Church about the middle of the sixth century by St. Caesarius of Arles".[2]. (We might be more familiar with the horn in cornucopia, the horn of plenty, which retains the sense of martial success.) He is blessed and to be blessed in ceaseless, rhythmically repetitive praise and worship. The canticle of Zechariah is one of my absolute favorites, but I am much more acquainted with (memorized) a different translation. So, after nine months of speechlessness Zechariah is essentially saying: Praise God! A Wise Teacher, a Humble Pope. to illumine these who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to direct our feet in the way of peace. Log in, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window). In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying, a. The address goes from the third person to the second, evoking the intimacy of I-Thou relations (on which Martin Buber has written), but of course also that of a father with his son. (Isaiah 40:8). Theres a difference between the knowledge of salvation and the real thing. Illi is that one who is at the heart of the salvation in question, the one who personally visited and made salvation, who is the horn of salvation, who is the son of David, as the genealogies of the Evangelists remind us, who is the one spoken of by the prophets. (Our psalm reading is in fact Zechariah's canticle in Luke's Gospel; Luke's mention of Zechariah connects the two readings.) for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways, Here, it becomes important to see Luke as Greek, which . salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us; Scripture texts in this work are taken from theNew American Bible, revised edition 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. The canticle divides into two halves. This entire bodily metaphor also connotes darkness. In his silence, he had quieted his chatter, his raucous human reasoning, his empty rationalizations, and he had submitted. Dayspring from on high, be near; The Latin knits the two together with a repeated ending: salutis; nobis. Play over 265 million tracks for free on SoundCloud. The people will be able to worship and serve God without fear of further oppression from their enemies. The prophecy that he was to "go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways" (v. A lot of people talk about being saved but fail to experience the joy of new life in Christ. Martial metaphors are always difficult to negotiate, in part because they can become dangerously over- and misapplied. This work, unless otherwise expressly stated, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Et tu, puer, propheta Altissimi vocaberis, praeibis enim ante faciem Domini parare vias eius, You, boy, will also be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways. We could have closure here. Together with other "songs" in Luke such as the songs of Mary (Luke 1:46-55), the heavenly host (1:14) and Simeon (1:29-32) Zechariah's contribution to the musical score offers a symphony of praise to Continue reading "Commentary on Luke 1:68-79" Canticle of Zechariah Holy Prayer Card 3 by 4 Inch. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. canticle of zechariah explained Follow us. Brand: Catholic Spring time. Its just that repentance is only half the story. It is unwise to assume bland congeniality as we bear witness to what has been done for us. salvation from our enemies, and out of the hand of all, who hate us. Benedictus (The Song of Zechariah) 1 Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel, . The horn of salvation is for us, for me (pro me in Bonhoeffers excellent Lutheran emphasis). who has come to his people and set them free. Earlier we learned that salvation is from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us. and you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High. Thank you. 1:18); [Christ] is not ashamed to call them brothers (Heb. Through His holy prophets He promised of old That He would save us from our enemies, From the hands of all who hate us. 1 rating. First we had plebi suae, then we had pueri sui, now we have prophetarum eius: his people, his son, his prophets.