Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/444

 The Benedictus  is  the  name  given  to  Zachary’s  canticle  of  praise. It is  a splendid  song  of  thanksgiving  for  the  blessing  of  redemption, and is  therefore  daily  recited  by  the  priests  of  the  Church  in  their office at  Lauds. In this  prayer  Zachary  exhibits  a truly  priestly  mind. He does  not  think  of  himself  or  of  his  own  happiness,  or  of  the  honour which was  brought  to  him  by  the  birth  of  such  a son. His thoughts are occupied  by  the  salvation  which  God  had  prepared  for  the  whole world; and  he  regards  his  son  only  in  the  light  of  the  prophet  and precursor, whose  birth  heralded  the  near  approach  of  the  Saviour.

Birthdays and  feast-days. The  Church  celebrates  the  nativity  of St. John the  Baptist  on  June  24th. In the  case  of  other  Saints  it  is  not the day  of  their  birth,  but  the  day  of  their  death  which  is  solemnized, this last  being  the  day  of  their  entry  into  the  glory  of  heaven. The nativity of  only  two  Saints  is  celebrated,  namely,  that  of  our  Lady (Sept. 8th),  because  she  was  conceived  without  the  stain  of  sin,  and  that of St.  John  the  Baptist,  because  he  was  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost  before his birth,  and  was  thereby  cleansed  from  original  sin. We all  come into the  world  the  children  of  wrath,  infected  by  the  taint  of  original sin, and  for  this  reason  Catholics  do  not  celebrate  their  natural  birthday so  much  as  the  day  of  their  supernatural  birth,  or  their  feast-day, i. e.  the  feast  of  the  Saint  whose  name  they  received  in  Baptism. On our feast-day  we  should  thank  God  not  only  for  having  given  to  us and  preserved  the  life  of  our  body,  but  also  for  that  supernatural  and eternal life  to  which  we  were  born  again  in  holy  Baptism,  being  hereby made members  of  His  holy  Church  and  heirs  of  heaven. The name of a Saint  was  given  to  us  in  Baptism,  in  order  that  he  whose  name we bear  may  intercede  for  us  with  God,  and  that  we  may  have  a model before us  to  imitate.

John came  into  the  world  in  a state  of  grace, and grew  daily  in  grace  and  virtue. You, indeed,  came  into  the world in  a state  of  original  sin,  but  by  Baptism  this  sin  was  taken from you,  and  you  received  sanctifying  grace. But have  you  never lost that  grace  by  mortal  sin  f Have  you  spent  the  years  of  your youth in  piety  and  the  fear  of  God,  or  in  thoughtlessness  and forgetfulness of  God ? Oh, do  not  desecrate  the  beautiful  years  of your  youth  by  sin  and  folly,  or  you  will  bitterly  repent  it  some day, and,  full  of  sorrow,  will  exclaim: “Give  back  to  me  my youth. Oh, would  that  I had  better  employed  the  years  of  my youth!”  “Remember  thy  Creator  in  the  days  of  thy  youth” (Eccles. 12,  1).