The Benedictus: Zechariah's Prophecy (Luke 1:67–80)

The texts below are quoted verbatim from public-domain English translations; nothing is paraphrased.

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St. Cyril of Alexandria (c. 376–444)

Commentary on the Gospel of Luke, Fragments on Chapter 1 (on Luke 1:68–79) Source: trans. R. Payne Smith, Library of Fathers, 1859. Public domain. Full text: https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/cyril_on_luke_01_sermons_01_11.htm

On the horn of salvation raised up in the house of David:

The word horn is used not only for power, but also for royalty. But Christ, Who is the Saviour that hath risen for us from the family and race of David, is both: for He is the King of kings, and the invincible power of the Father.

On the oath which God sware to Abraham, and why no man should learn from it to swear:

But let no one accustom himself to swear from hearing that God sware unto Abraham. For just as anger, when spoken of God, is not anger, nor implies passion, but signifies power exercised in punishment ... so neither is an oath an act of swearing. For God does not swear, but indicates the certainty of the event ... For God's oath is His own word, fully persuading those that hear, and giving each one the conviction that what He has promised and said will certainly come to pass.

On the child called the Prophet of the Highest:

Observe, I pray, this also, that Christ is the Highest, Whose forerunner John was both in his birth, and in his preaching. ... And why will they not understand, that when Zacharias said, "And thou shalt be called Prophet of the Highest," he meant thereby "of God," of Whom also were the rest of the prophets.

On giving light to them that sit in darkness:

For those under the law, and dwelling in Judea, the Baptist was, as it were, a lamp, preceding Christ: and God so spake before of him; "I have prepared a lamp for My Christ."

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St. John Chrysostom (c. 347–407)

From the homilies of St. John Chrysostom, as preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke. Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/english/CALuke.htm

On what is meant by an horn of salvation:

Now by a horn he means power, glory, and honor, deriving it metaphorically from the brute creatures, to whom God has given horns for defense and glory.

On being delivered from our enemies, that we might serve Him without fear:

Having said that a horn of salvation had risen up to us from the house of David, he shows that through it we are partakers of His glory, and escape the assaults of the enemy ... The two things above mentioned will not easily be found united. For many escape danger, but fail of a glorious life, as criminals discharged from prison by the king's mercy. On the other hand, some reap glory, but are compelled for its sake to encounter dangers, as soldiers in war embracing a life of honor are oftentimes in the greatest peril. But the horn brings both safety and glory.

On John going before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways:

But as kings have their companions in arms, who stand nearest to them, so John, who was the friend of the Bridegroom, went before Him nigh to His coming. And this is what follows, For you shall go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways. For some prophets have preached the mystery of Christ at a distance, but he preached it nearer the time, that he might both see Christ, and declare Him to others.

On the day-spring from on high that hath visited us:

Which mercy we find not indeed by our own seeking, but God from on high has appeared to us ... the day-spring from on high (that is, Christ) has visited us, taking upon Him our flesh.

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Theophylact of Ohrid (c. 1055–1107)

Explanation of the Gospel of Luke (on Luke 1:69–77) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke. Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/english/CALuke.htm

On the horn of salvation raised up in these last times:

God seemed to be asleep, disregarding the sins of the multitude, but in these last times coming in the flesh, He has risen up and trodden down the evil spirits who hated us.

On the mercy promised to the forefathers, and those who have died before us:

The grace of Christ extends even to those who are dead, because through Him we shall rise again, not only we, but they also who have been dead before us.

On the knowledge of salvation given through John:

The Lord Jesus is salvation, but the knowledge of salvation, i.e. of Christ, was given in John, who bore witness of Christ.

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Origen of Alexandria (c. 185–254)

Homilies on the Gospel of Luke (on Luke 1:68–80) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke. Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/english/CALuke.htm

On Zacharias uttering two prophecies, of Christ and of John:

Now Zacharias being filled with the Holy Spirit utters two prophecies, the first relating to Christ, the second to John. And this is plainly proved by those words in which he speaks of the Savior as present and already going about in the world, saying, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited, &c.

On being saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us:

Let us not suppose that this refers to our bodily enemies, but our ghostly. For the Lord Jesus came mighty in battle to destroy all our enemies, that He might deliver us from their snares and temptation.

On the child that grew and waxed strong in spirit:

Or he increased in spirit, remaining not in the same measure in which he had begun, but the Spirit was ever growing in him. ... Many wax strong in the flesh, but the wrestler of God must be strengthened by the Spirit that he may crush the wisdom of the flesh.

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St. Ambrose of Milan (c. 339–397)

Exposition of the Gospel of Luke (on Luke 1:68–80) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke. Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/english/CALuke.htm

On God visiting and redeeming His people beyond their hope:

God in His mercy and readiness to pardon our sins, not only restores to us what He has taken away, but grants us favors even beyond our expectations. Let no one then distrust Him, let no one from consciousness of past sins despair of the Divine blessing.

On Zacharias addressing the child eight days old:

Now perhaps some may think it an absurd extravagance of the mind to address a child of eight days old. But if we keep our eyes fixed upon higher things, we surely can understand that the son might hear the voice of his father, who before he was born heard the salutation of Mary.

On the few words of Elisabeth and the many of Zacharias:

Mark also, in how few words Elisabeth prophesies, in how many Zacharias, and yet each spoke filled with the Holy Spirit; but this discipline is preserved, that women may study rather to learn what are the Divine commands than to teach them.

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St. Bede the Venerable (c. 673–735)

Commentary on the Gospel of Luke (on Luke 1:68–80) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke. Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/english/CALuke.htm

On the Lord visiting and redeeming His people:

But the Lord visited His people who were pining away as it were from long sickness, and by the blood of His only begotten Son, redeemed them who were sold under sin.

On the kingdom of Christ called the horn of salvation:

The kingdom of our Savior Christ is called also the horn of salvation, because all our bones are clothed with flesh, but the horn alone stretches beyond the flesh; so the kingdom of Christ is called the horn of salvation, as reaching beyond the world and the delights of the flesh.

On the child that was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel:

The future preacher of repentance, that he might the more boldly reclaim his hearers from the allurements of the world, passes the first part of his life in the deserts.