Come, Creator Spirit

Sung at Confirmations, ordinations, and the election of a pope.

When the Church needs the Holy Spirit for something serious, this is what she sings. It opens conclaves, ordinations, Confirmations, synods and the new year. A ninth-century hymn, usually attributed to Rabanus Maurus, it carries a plenary indulgence when sung on 1 January or at Pentecost.

In English

Come, Holy Ghost, Creator blest,
and in our hearts take up Thy rest;
come with Thy grace and heavenly aid
to fill the hearts which Thou hast made.

O Comforter, to Thee we cry,
thou heavenly gift of God most high;
thou fount of life and fire of love,
and sweet anointing from above.

O Finger of the hand divine,
the sevenfold gifts of grace are thine;
true promise of the Father thou,
who dost the tongue with power endow.

Kindle our senses from above,
and make our hearts o'erflow with love;
with patience firm and virtue high
the weakness of our flesh supply.

Far from us drive the foe we dread,
and grant us Thy true peace instead;
so shall we not, with Thee for guide,
turn from the path of life aside.

Oh, may Thy grace on us bestow
the Father and the Son to know,
and Thee, through endless times confessed,
of both the eternal Spirit blest.

All glory while the ages run
be to the Father and the Son
who rose from death; the same to Thee,
O Holy Ghost, eternally. Amen.

In Latin

Veni, Creator Spiritus,
mentes tuorum visita,
imple superna gratia,
quae tu creasti pectora.

Qui diceris Paraclitus,
altissimi donum Dei,
fons vivus, ignis, caritas,
et spiritalis unctio.

Tu septiformis munere,
digitus paternae dexterae,
tu rite promissum Patris,
sermone ditans guttura.

Accende lumen sensibus,
infunde amorem cordibus,
infirma nostri corporis
virtute firmans perpeti.

Hostem repellas longius
pacemque dones protinus;
ductore sic te praevio
vitemus omne noxium.

Per te sciamus da Patrem
noscamus atque Filium,
teque utriusque Spiritum
credamus omni tempore. Amen.

The Versicle

V. Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created.
R. And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.

About This Prayer

The English above is Edward Caswall’s translation. Note the third verse: the Spirit is called the Finger of God’s right hand — an image drawn from Christ’s own words, that He cast out demons "by the finger of God." The hymn asks not for feelings but for gifts: light for the mind, love for the heart, and strength for a body that keeps failing.