Bob Davis Menu, Can Collagen Cause Breast Tenderness, Caitlin Thompson Dan Fogelman Wedding, Does Assassin's Creed Valhalla Have Ray Tracing Ps5, Articles C

Have no fear. An original text based upon Luke 1:68-80. There are three possible explanations. Im not translator and the NABRE translators are excellent scholars. And in a particular way, this passage struck me during diaconate formation when reflecting on the ministry of Lector, Gospel proclaimer, preacher. The first phrases tell us that God is to be blessed, for he has visited salvation on his people (visitavit). "The Benedictus (Canticle of Zachary)." Sine timore, without fear. 2 His book brims over with the hope that God would remember His promises to His people, even after all the time they spent outside the land. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! The meditation proceeds line by line, and usually phrase by phrase. The hymn is addressed to the Israelite people about their long-cherished messianic hopes and to St. John the Baptist as the prophet and forerunner of the Messiah whose kingdom of peace is about to begin. I think every good translator tries to carefully walk the tightrope of simultaneously doing justice to meaning, beauty, syntax, etc. At the outset, Gods work in the house of David his son, pueri sui, was cited. A few of these are known to have been . The story for this canticle comes from Luke 1:6879. After the naming was official, Zechariah's muteness was lifted and he sang this song of praise. Perhaps we might say that the first benefit of illumination is to recognize that we are in such dire circumstances. It may be just two lines used in the Catholic Mass that are associated with the Sanctus and it also refers to the Canticle of Zechariah. (2) There were two Zechariahs. A message against an area that extends from modern-day Syria down through the Mediterranean coast to Israel. The light that God gives illumines our whole life situation, providing hope, showing us our lives for what they really are, making plain next steps. They are sung every day (unlike those from the Old Testament which, as is, shown above, are only of weekly occurrence). Through his holy prophets he promised of old. to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death. Canticle of Zechariah | The Monks of Weston Priory _____ OT Reading: Malachi 3:5-12 (NLT) 3:5 "At that time I will put you on trial. I am eager to witness against all sorcerers and adulterers and liars. The deliverance was now at hand, and was pointed to by Zechariah as the fulfilment of God's oath to Abraham; but the fulfilment is described as a deliverance not for the sake of worldly power, but that "we may serve him without fear, in holiness and justice all our days". And to guide our feet into the way of peace. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. Christ has won the victory. (Acts 19:1-6). Zechariah didnt believe Gabriel and asked for a sign (how will I know this). and to remember his holy covenant. Come, Let Us Adore Him! Sep 13, 2016 - Explore Estella Gonzales's board "Canticle of Zechariah", followed by 383 people on Pinterest. Call for Obedience. The angel appeared to Zechariah in the sanctuary of the Lord, and told him of the birth of his son; however, because of the old age of both he and his wife, he doubted, and was punished with being . , , . Through the holy prophets, God promised of old, This was the oath God swore to our father Abraham. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel: he has come to his people and set them free. This is his holy covenant that is remembered, et memorari testamenti sui sancti. 1:73-75 We are saved from our all enemies so that all of us may serve HIM fearlessly all our life. (Later, it will be matched by visitabit.) They are placed not amongst the psalms (as are the seven from the Old Testament), but separated from them by the Chapter, the Hymn, the Versicle and . 67 Then Zechariah his father, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesied, saying: 68*Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and brought redemption to his people.k, 69*He has raised up a horn for our salvation within the house of David his servant,l. 3:17). Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! The history of the people of Israel is filled with long periods of subjection and slavery. He reminded them that, in the hockey world, all the other nations hate Canada. Just watch the television or listen to the radio talk shows or read the political commentary in the newspaper or online. It begins in the people of Israel, called by God from the time of Israel, with whom he established a covenant so that they may be a blessing to all people, and to all of creation. 1:76-79 Who is it that goes before the Lord to prepare his people? What could signify this thoughtlessness more thoroughly than reciting a song in an unknown language, one associated with an old Church and ancient, organized power? Et tu, puer, propheta Altissimi vocaberis, praeibis enim ante faciem Domini parare vias eius, You, boy, will also be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways. Visit then this soul of mine, CH 9. Today, it is used in the Lauds of the Divine Office of the Catholic Church to be sung during morning prayers. (left: Relaxing with Bigsby, our wonderful St. Bernard). These are manifold and diverse, as different as the obedience of each one of us, as we find our being in belonging to the Way, an excursion that is at the same time an arrival and a rest, an arrival and discovery that initiates a life of seeking and hoping. The alliterative /d/, with its direct, definite, and somewhat dark associations -dictus; Dominus; Deus asserts the preeminence of the God of Israel. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited. It is sung by Zechariah (Zachary) in thanks to God for the birth of his son, John the Baptist. It also features in various other liturgical offices, notably at a funeral, at the moment of interment, when words of thanksgiving for the Redemption are specially in place as an expression of Christian hope. Good Christian Friends, Rejoice. With promised mercy will God still the covenant recall, the oath once sworn to Abrah subscribe as long as you continue providing such great sermon help.. The other half is turning to Christ. A canticle is, etymologically, a small song. I found this line difficult to memorize at first and had to break it down into its ten words and treat it like a list. He it is who will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways, giving knowledge of salvation. We can serve that one. The meditation proceeds line by line, and usually phrase by phrase. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Blessed be the Lord, The God of Israel; He has come to His people and set them free. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law. In raising up a savior from the house of David, Zechariah isnt talking about his son John (David is in Judahs lineage and John the Baptist is in Levis lineage).Zechariah is telling us that the birth of John announces the imminent arrival of the long awaited Messiah. The Latin conveys a double sense of preceding: its present in the prefix prae-, reinforced with the word ante; ante faciem also recalls coram ipso. While the Jews had impatiently borne the yoke of the Romans, they had continually sighed for the time when the House of David was to be their deliverer. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. 2:11). $2.65. The canticle of Zechariah is one of my absolute favorites, but I am much more acquainted with (memorized) a different translation. The promise of redemption applies only to those who are willing to be redeemed those who are willing to turn from their sinful ways and surrender their lives to the Redeemer. Suddenly, his ability to speak returns and Zechariah bursts into a . Today, it is used in the Lauds of the Divine Office of the Catholic Church to be sung during morning prayers. in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. The salvation on offer is effective and complete. So its a knowledge of work done, but a knowledge imbued with participatory learning too, that hands-on knowledge that comes as one purposes to walk in his ways. This entire bodily metaphor also connotes darkness. and raised a horn of salvation for us in the house of David his son. Now, in this latter phrase, where the oriens ex alto stands in for the visitation of God in Christ, the illumination and the directing of our feet in the way of peace would seem more naturally to refer to the work of Christ in the first instance. saying to the people that they should believe in the one who would come after him, The second part of Zechariahs song has to do with John the Baptist. (At some level, we cannot help but to bear such witness). 2. Pray about what our response should be. First we had a reminder of who had spoken of the visiting, the making, and the raising; now we have, in a nutshell, what it is they were speaking of: salutem, salvation, specifically salvation from our enemies, and from all who hate us. We cant seem to get enough to eat and drink or toys and gadgets to play with. In this case, he not only commits him to God, but acknowledges a work and a calling already effected by Him. 'The dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who . He said, Into what then were you baptized? The passage delivers this truth with a passive construction, as part of the theme of hiddenness. Things really get exciting now, linguistically. At the same time, to identify with the Church as part of the people of God is to acknowledge that those who do not so identify themselves in some way and to a certain extent identify with those who hate us, because they hate God. God has created the conditions of possibility whereby we might serve that one. for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways, All the days of our life. The closing phrases reverberate twice more with what has gone before. and prophesied (Luke 1:67). GENERAL AUDIENCE OF JOHN PAUL II. But God will protect Jerusalem in that day. For several months now Ive been getting a daily devotional from a longtime member of AA. The cadence of the phrasing, and especially that of the last three words, conveys the sense of repeated action in lasting security. but the word of our God stands forever. And what is our ultimate goal? Found in Luke 1:6879, the canticle received its name from its first words in Latin (Benedictus Dominus Deus Israhel, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel). Learning Resources - Free printable resources for schools, parishes, and more. (1913). Once in the land of Canaan they were defeated by the Philistines, the Assyrians, and the Babylonians, only to be conquered by the Romans. These grammatical details are relevant to understanding the rest of the line as well, at least in the Latin. In this construction, we are not only saved out of the hand of those who hate us: we are saved out of the hands of all, and the all are characterized as those who hate us, qui oderunt nos. Through the viscera the oriens ex alto (the east from on high) will visit us. What has been raised up is a horn used as a call to battle, which stands metonymically for success in battle. ad faciendam misericordiam cum patribus nostris, et memorari testamenti sui sancti, to the making of mercy with our fathers, and the remembering of his holy covenant. Used by permission. Some scholars say this canticle was added to the liturgy of the hours by St. Benedict of Nursia, who made the divine office a . So yesterday I tried to give you the idea that a seemingly innocuous passage of scripture is really telling us that something big is going on. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, Copyright 2022 Catholic Online. Prayer: Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people and set them free. If you listen to the news of the day, our enemies include Al-Quaeda, North Korea, Iran, Muslim extremists, and terrorists in general. (Mind, you. The notion of emotional intelligence approximates this in-between notion, but for various complex historical reasons in a Western context tends to pit the emotions against rationality. Blest be the God of Israel who comes to set us free and raises up a new hope for us: a Branch from David's tree. Luke 1:68-79Zechariah's Song. (Luke 1:68-75), A SUBSCRIBER SAYS: I want to say THANK YOU for all your help. the dawn from on high shall break upon us. For the next phrase includes a relative pronoun also in the plural, in quibus (in which). These two pieces are primarily separated in terms of the music and melody used for each. Catholic Online Prayers - thousands of prayers. Earlier we learned that salvation is from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us. Read our. There is hope for Zechariah's son John who will prepare the way for Jesus with his father's prophetic blessing upon him. k. 69 * He has raised up a horn for our salvation within the house of David his servant, l. 70 even as he promised through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old: I want to reflect more on this. Scholarly disputes regarding the origin of this canticle have suggested three possible composers: Zechariah, St. Luke, and followers of St. John the Baptist. And this is what he said: Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, Copyright 2022 Catholic Online. The word refers to the inner organs, the heart and stomach, the guts. and to guide our feet into the way of peace. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to set us free from the hands of our enemies. Actually, what John the Baptist will give (ad dandam) to the people to whom he preaches the gospel will be scientiam salutis, knowledge of salvation, the salvation that is being effected right before their very eyes in the life of Jesus. We shouldnt take this picture too far, but lets have a little fun with the Latin: this remission is the science (scientiam) of salvation. Reflection on the Canticle of Mary actually ought to precede that on the Canticle of Zechariah. A Summary of Zechariah: Burden 1. It is sung by Zechariah (Zachary) in thanks to God for the birth of his son, John the Baptist. and to grant us that, rescued from the hand of enemies, without fear we might worship him in holiness and righteousness. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Canticle of Zechariah Holy Prayer Card 3 by 4 Inch. Till they inward light impart, This work, unless otherwise expressly stated, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. The form of the Latin phrase reinforces the solidity of the covenant with the stolid repetitiveness of the ending of each word in it. The following is a reflection on the Canticle of Zechariah (Luke 2:6879), which one says as part of Morning Prayer. God of all mercies, we praise you that you have brought us to this new day, brightening our lives with the dawn of promise and hope in Jesus Christ. . he has come to his people and set them free. More emphasis on the seamless connectedness of past and future, of commandment and execution. Benedictus, also called Song of Zechariah, New Testament hymn of praise and thanksgiving sung by Zechariah, a Jewish priest of the line of Aaron, on the occasion of the circumcision and naming of his son, St. John the Baptist. Canticle of Zechariah. Add to Cart Buy Now. Yet John is still the one Zechariah is addressing directly in this second part: if the baptist is the one giving knowledge, he is also the one directing the feet of the people of God into the way of peace. . Some will happen in the near time, but the more complete fulfillment will come when Messiah returns to earth to judge and rule and bless. who has come to his people and set them free. Including morning & night prayers, marriage and basic prayers like Hail Mary, Our Father, Apostles' Creed and many more. Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Amen. A number of other Christian churches also use this song, though it's mostly in English. The Angels' Song, Gloria - Luke 2. and to guide our feet into the way of peace. It is based on the Latin, which I wanted to memorize for the historical influence of the text, but the Latin is so . When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, Occasion. Benedictus. . As a nation, were killing ourselves with unbridled consumerism and every form of entertainment and violence. The opening phrase with its internal rhyme, sicut locutus, vivifies this subcutaneous assuredness: it was spoken, it has happened, it always going to happen, for with God speaking and being are one. Benedictus, also called Song of Zechariah, New Testament hymn of praise and thanksgiving sung by Zechariah, a Jewish priest of the line of Aaron, on the occasion of the circumcision and naming of his son, St. John the Baptist. St Paul focuses on the meaning of that receptivity when he writes of how God credited the patriarchs belief as righteousness (Rom. Vol. CANTICLE. Communio Circle of the Diocese of Hamilton, Thy Will Be Done on Earth as It Is in Heaven, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License, Questions about the Structure and Duties of the Synod of Bishops, Catholic Politics and the Analogy of Authority, Henri de Lubac and the Christian Mystery of Nature and Grace, Memory Eternal: Fruitful Death as the Form of Personal Mediation (Part II), A Proposal from the Communio Circle of the Diocese of Hamilton to the Hamilton Atheists. Saint of the Day for Saturday, March 4th, 2023, First Station: Jesus is condemned to death. The first (verses 6875) is a song of thanksgiving for the realization of the Messianic hopes of the Jewish nation; but to such realization is given a characteristically Christian tone. We can also be comforted knowing that God gives us the grace necessary to answer this call!Again, pray in thanksgiving and pray about how you should respond to the freedom and this obligation. Illuminare: to shed light on, to give light to. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. the true, the only Light; to save us from our enemies, from the hands of all that hate us, 4 To show . He has raised up for us a mighty Saviour, Born of the house of His servant David. On a practical lesson that means you should replace that Canticle with a different one in Morning Prayer today; prior Prayer Book tradition recommends the Jubilate, Psalm Your fondness of this rich text is clear. International Commission on English in the Liturgy, Ward, Bernard. to shine on those who sit in darkness and deaths shadow. Log in, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window). The people will be able to worship and serve God without fear of further oppression from their enemies. In eitherinstance, "Benedictus" is Latin for "blessed" and English translations have been completed for each song. The prophecy that he was to "go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways" (v. However, the giving of that knowledge can also refer to what he, the Lord, will do as he goes along his ways. Zechariah 1:1 says that the *prophet was the 'son of Berechiah, son of Iddo'. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner. Were not quite there yet, though. Its salvation for plebi eius, his people, whoever they may be. Sermons Gospel Canticle of Zechariah The Gospel Canticle of Zachariah is also known by the first word of the Latin translation, Benedictus. As of old, in the family of David, there was power to defend the nation against their enemies, now again that of which they had been so long deprived, and for which they had been yearning, was to be restored to them, but in a higher and spiritual sense. Thank you to all who use Hymnary.org and all who support it with gifts of time, talent and treasure. As in the previous line (in remissionem), in can probably safely be translated as through, though in is useful too. till Thy mercys beams I see; First Line: Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, For he hath visited and redeemed his people. Through His holy prophets He promised of old that He would save us from our enemies. You cant embrace new life in Christ if youre still holding on to your old way of life. ad dandam scientiam salutis plebi eius in remissionem peccatorum eorum, to the giving of knowledge of salvation to his people in the remission of their sins. Author: Christopher Walker. Never mind the issues we may have with other people or with the spiritual forces of darkness. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Benedictus-biblical-canticle, The Catholic Encyclopedia - The Benedictus. I find this translation more poetic, more beautiful. But it would be somewhat misleading to think of the construction here as involving deferral, or of our being in danger of getting lost in a myriad of details, for in the Latin one expects the most important information to come at the end of a sentence. (1) The prophet and his times. All Rights Reserved. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Todays reading is one of those times when, in my opinion, the NABRE translators placed a greater emphasis put on the literal meaning of the words and the poetry of the canticle had to suffer. It is the Virgin Mary's joyous prayer in response to her cousin Elizabeth's greeting (Luke 1: 41-45). 70 even as he promised through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old: 71 salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us,m, 72 to show mercy to our fathersn and to be mindful of his holy covenanto. Our English word prepare includes that suffix prae- and combines it with the verb that now appears in the infinitive form, parare, to prepare. Before Zechariah ever opened his mouth, the Spirit filled his soul and inspired him to sing Gods praise. There will be no added cost to you. Cycle C. Birth of John the Baptist. God's power exceeds our own ability to name, to capture, or to control . Our Advent series concludes this morning with Zechariahs song. You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, to give his people knowledge of salvation. Click here for more information. 1. Biblical Commentary The promise is Christ comes to unlock our prison doors and set us free. Paul said, John indeed baptized with the baptism of repentance, Pray about this. Corrections? Wednesday, 1 October 2003 . The Benedictus can refer to one of two liturgical prayer songs. per viscera misericordiae Dei nostri, in quibus visitabit nos oriens ex alto, through the bowels of the mercy of our God, in which the east will visit us from above, The word viscera readers may recognize in the modern word visceral. We sometimes talk about having a visceral reaction to something. holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life. canticle, (from Latin canticulum, diminutive of canticum, "song"), a scriptural hymn text that is used in various Christian liturgies and is similar to a psalm in form and content but appears apart from the book of Psalms. I have no credentials to criticize their translation. The term Benedictus is also used to describe a canticle from Matthew 21:9 that begins, Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! It is often part of the Sanctus of the mass. In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying, a. John will be before the Lord both as a harbinger and attitudinally. In order to experience a new life of sobriety, you have to leave your old life behind and turn to a Higher Power. The Catholic Encyclopedia. Having reached the end of our long journey through the Psalms and Canticles of the Liturgy of Lauds, let us pause to consider the prayer that marks the Office of Lauds every morning. This raises two fundamental questions for us today: Who are our enemies? He has done so by liberating us from the hand of our enemies: de manu inimicorum liberati. Omissions? The other reference to the "Benedictus" is also called the "Canticle of Zechariah." The Benedictus was used as a hymn beginning in the 4th century in both Eastern and Western liturgies. Canticle of Zechariah As someone who enjoys random trivia of all kinds, and church trivia in particular, one thing I've loved sharing this year is that this is the longest that Advent can possibly last. They are his people, in virtue of the forgiveness of their (eorum)sins, remissionem peccatorum eorum. It falls into two parts: The first praising God for the promise of redemption; the second, prophesying the role of John the Baptist to prepare the way for the coming of the Promised Messiah. A new day is dawning that drives away darkness and death and guides humanity into the way of. scatter all my unbelief; Canticle of Zechariah (Benedictus) Score; Full Text; Response (Advent & General) Hail to the Lord's Anointed, great David's greater Son. * a 3 Say to them: Thus says the LORD of hosts, Return to meoracle of the LORD * of hostsand I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. The Baptism of the Lord. Regardless of who the enemies are, we can work in the world, can live, and move, and have our being, without fear. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; because he hath visited and wrought the redemption of His people: Blessed be the Lord God of Israel: for he hath visited, and redeemed his people; This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain:Herbermann, Charles, ed. Luke writes, Paul, having passed through the upper country, In his silence, he had quieted his chatter, his raucous human reasoning, his empty rationalizations, and he had submitted. This is no small matter. This is tricky terrain. Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel, quia visitavit et fecit redemptionem plebi suae, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and made redemption for his people. Found in Luke 1:68-79, the canticle received its name from its first words in Latin (Benedictus Dominus Deus Israhel, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel"). First we had plebi suae, then we had pueri sui, now we have prophetarum eius: his people, his son, his prophets. Such a Power is revealed as personal, and his actions call into question what the reader or listener might think qualify as power and authority. The Benedictus, also known as the Canticle of Zechariah, is a father's thanks for the gift of his son, John the Baptist. Both kinds of darkness are at play here. If God has a body, salvation comes to his people out of his guts of mercy. even as he promised through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old: salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us. Inspired by the Spirit, Zechariah sees that day coming. Hymn Lists. salvation from our enemies, and out of the hand of all, who hate us. A fairly literal translation accompanies each line. This prophet is also mentioned by Jesus as having been murdered by the rebellious and . First Line: [Canticle of Zechariah] Title: Canticle of Zechariah. The Canticle of Zechariah.. 67 Then Zechariah his father, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesied, saying: 68 * "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and brought redemption to his people. When that happens, you awaken to a new reality. and you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High. The address goes from the third person to the second, evoking the intimacy of I-Thou relations (on which Martin Buber has written), but of course also that of a father with his son. unaccompanied by Thee; At four years of age, he had learned Latin, at nine Greek, at 11 French, and at 13 years old Hebrew. Today we want to find out why Zechariah is praising the Lord God of Israel so, what his song is saying, and how Zechariah's song can be our song, too. Brand: Catholic Spring time. illuminare his qui in tenebris et in umbra mortis sedent, ad dirigendos pedes nostros in viam pacis. Dei nostri recalls earlier references to our God, and brings close again the God who momentarily withdrew in the previous line, when he became the God of his people (plebi eius), leaving the reader or auditor perhaps momentarily wondering if he or she shares in that identity. God has done work to effect the giving of mercy (which we recall in a special way in this Pope Franciss Year of Mercy) to our fathers, into which he magnanimously draws his people as co-participants. How much more meaning does this verse have if you image that God is quietly whispering in your ear? This is nothing new. . A Stable Lamp Is Lighted. I say this as if there perhaps were some sort of neutral life after all, between being besieged by enemies and responding to illi, when in fact all apparent realities that keep us from such commitment will be known in their lack as the hand of enemies. I have an absolute love for God's Word and feel inclined to share my reflections with others. 1:18); [Christ] is not ashamed to call them brothers (Heb. 3 Through his holy prophets God promised of old . More activity: building or raising up. The story for this canticle comes from Luke 1:68-79. Theres a difference between the knowledge of salvation and the real thing. In the first, Zechariah has been blessing God; now he addresses his newborn son, who will become John the Baptist. The first time I read the Canticle of Zechariah I remember feeling a little bit stunned. One can glean the point almost as well from an appreciation of an English writer who likes complex syntax.