Birth of John the Baptist

to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death; to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the dawn from on high will visit us,

And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways,

“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and worked redemption for his people;

and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David

The child was growing, and becoming strong in spirit, and was in the desert until the day of his public appearance to Israel.