Veni Creator Spiritus (“Come Creator Spirit”) is a hymn sung during Pentecost.
Dom Guéranger says that the hymn was written in the 9th century and, according to tradition, was composed by Charlemagne. (1) "Sublimity and unction are the characteristics of this beautiful hymn, which is ever new and exhaustible."(2)
He gives this direction to the faithful:
"During the chant of this soul-stirring hymn, the faithful should fervently adore the Holy Spirit, and invite Him to enter into their hearts. At this very hour, He is filling our churches with His invisible presence, and, if there be no obstacle on our part, He will take possession of our souls. Let us acknowledge to Him the need we have of His visit; let us importune Him to take up His new abode within us, now and for ever.
"We are His own possession; may He bestow upon us the graces we are now going to pray for! Let us be sincere in our petition:
Let us remember that, in order to receive the Holy Ghost and keep Him within us, we must renounce the spirit of the world, for our Savior has said: 'No man can serve two masters' (Mt 6:24)."(3)
Veni Creator Spiritus is here interpreted by the Schola Cantorum of Amsterdam Students.
Listen to Veni Creator Spiritus
Lyrics:
Latin text
1. Veni, Creator Spiritus,
Mentes tuorum visita,
Imple superna gratia,
Quae tu creasti pectora.
2. Qui diceris Paraclitus,
Altissimi donum Dei,
Fons vivus, ignis, caritas,
Et spiritalis unctio.
3. Tu septiformis munere,
Digitus Paternae dexterae,
Tu rite promissum Patris,
Sermone ditans guttura.
