Page 8
Lord, and shall drink no wine nor strong drink. And he shall be
filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. And he shall convert
many of the children
of Israel to the Lord their God. And he shall go before Him in the spirit and
power of Elias, that
he may turn the hearts of the fathers unto the children, and the incredulous to
the wisdom of the
just, to prepare unto the Lord a perfect people."
And Zachary said to the angel: "Whereby shall I know this? For I am an old man,
and my wife is
advanced in years."
And the angel answering, said to him: "I am Gabriel, who stand before God, and
am sent to speak
to thee, and to bring thee these good tidings. And behold, thou shalt be dumb,
and shalt not be
able to speak until the day wherein these things shall come to pass, because
thou hast not believed
my words, which shall be fulfilled in their time."
And the people were waiting for Zachary, and they wondered that he tarried so
long in the Temple.
And when he came out, he could not speak to them. And they understood that he
had seen a vision in
the Temple. And he made signs to
them, and remained dumb.
And it came to pass, after the days of his office were accomplished, he departed to his own house
And after those days, Elizabeth his wife conceived, and hid herself five months, saying: "Thus
hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein He hath had regard to take away my reproach among
men."
The Gospel according to St. Luke chapter 1: verses 1-25