BENEDICTUS  , the hymn of

Zacharias (Luke i . 68 sqq.), so called from the opening word of the Latin version . The hymn has been used in Christian worship since at least the 9th century, and was adopted into the Anglican Order of Morning Prayer from the Roman service of matin-lauds . In the Prayer-Book of 1549 there was no alternative to the Benedictus; it was to be used " throughout the whole year." In 1552 the Jubilate was inserted without any restriction as to how often it should take the place of the Benedictus . Such restriction is clearly implied in the words " except when that (Benedictus) shall happen to be read in the chapter for the day, or for the Gospel on Saint John Baptist's day," which were inserted in 1662 . The rubric of 1532 had this curious wording: " And after the Second Lesson shall be used and said, Benedictus in English, as followeth." The name is also given to a part of the Roman Catholic mass service beginning Benedictus qui vent .