In Honour of the Baptizer

O house of Zachary greeted with a voice

The barren one’s infant leaps in her womb

Reproach removed, thy child doth rejoice

‘Tis the Ark, carrying the Victor over the tomb



Elizabeth, thy husband at the altar of incense

Met with great fear the angel hailed as Gabriel

Zachary, thy prayer has been heard, hence

Your wife bears a son, thinkest thou surreal



Armed with the spirit and power of Elias

His voice in the wilderness will cry for penance

More than a prophet, your son, and pious

Thy disbelief has reduced thee to silence



O priestly voice cut off from the outside world

Hear the inner Voice of God speaking to thee

His plan of salvation is about to be unfurled

Thy son preparing the way for this mystery



At thy house is the blessed who has believed

For three months she will stay with thy wife

She too, although a Virgin, has conceived

And she shall bring forth the Bread of Life



O house of Zachary thy kindred greets thy son

Circumcised before witnesses more than a few

Isaias foretold of this child of God’s creation

The dividing line of Testaments Old and New



What shall he be called, a kinfolk’s name no less

Zachary, the name given to his father the priest

Nay, the pronouncement of angelic lips: Ioannes

His name be, on locusts and honey shall he feast



Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel, Zachary speaks

For salvation from our enemies is made present

Ninety-nine may be safe, but one lost He seeks

Whether that be man or woman, rich or peasant



You, my son, prophet of the Appeaser of wrath

Prepare ye the way for heaven to meet earth

From the desert shall you make straight His path

This Child of Spirit presented by Virgin birth



The repentant shall come to thee to be baptized

The Jordan shall hear many confessions of guilt

And now comes to thee prophecies now realized

The Cornerstone on which the house of God is built



I should be baptized by Thee, the precursor pleads

For within Thee there is found not spot or stain

Suffer it be so now, fulfilling all justice’s needs

That which I do My heavenly Father ordain



Thou brood of vipers O Pharisee and Sadducee

Think ye not Abraham an enemy of the Lamb

Faith’s Father longed to hear: “Ecce Agnus Dei”

And see Him Who’ll be sacrificed for thy scam



The Tetrarch’s fear renders the baptizer incarcerated

The femme fatale of Herodias, a promise discussed

Dance for me and I give thee till thy heart is sated

The man of God beheaded because of Herod’s lust



The netherworld where waits Patriarch and Prophet

Ye men of God, let us continue with prayer and fasting

For He Whom thou have preached of, thus have I met

He will soon join us here and take us to life everlasting