September 23
The commemoration of Saints Zechariah and Elizabeth, the parents of John the Baptist, the Precursor of the Lord. Elizabeth, when she had received her cousin Mary into her home, was filled with the Holy Spirit and greeted the mother of the Lord as blessed among women. And Zechariah, a priest filled with the Spirit, on the occasion of his son’s birth, praised the Lord, the redeemer, and proclaimed that the coming of Christ, the one arising in the east, was near.
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May Holy Mary and all the saints intercede to the Lord for us, that we may merit to be helped and saved by him who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
V. Precious in the sight of the Lord
R. Is the death of his holy ones.
V. May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life. And may the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in pace.
R. Amen
[To learn about praying this and other Martyrology entries, see this page.]
