ANTRA DESERTI TENERIS AB ANNIS

« ANTRA DESERTI TENERIS AB ANNIS ». - A hymn of the Roman Breviary for Matins of the feast of s. Giovanni Battista. It is by Paolo Diacono (eighth century) and continues the hymn recited at First Vespers. Its thought is inspired by the circumstances of the life of Giovanni related by s. Luca in his Gospel (1, 5-23); our hymn recalls: the Precursor’s withdrawal into the desert, in order to avoid every lapse of the tongue, so easy amid the world; his exceedingly simple clothing; his frugal diet (stanzas 1-2). But although the figure of the last of the prophets is, as it were, shrouded in silence and humility, he nevertheless possesses a greatness and a mission superior to that of all the others: the ancient prophets, indeed, foretold the coming Messiah; only the Precursor was able to point him out and to pour the waters of Baptism upon his head. Indeed, he alone deserved Christ’s praise: « Vi dico in verità, fra quanti sono nati di donna, nessuno si levò mai che fosse più grande di Giovanni Battista » (Mt. 11, 11; and in the hymn, stanzas 3-4).