Hymnus
Attr. St. Gregory. Trans. Fr. E. Caswall. Sung at Terce during Pentecost and its Octave. The first strophe is sung kneeling.
About This Prayer
The Veni Creator Spiritus, attributed to St. Gregory the Great, sung at Terce during Pentecost and its Octave. The first strophe is traditionally sung kneeling. This invocation of the Spirit connects the third hour with the original descent at Pentecost (Acts 2:15). Fr. Edward Caswall's translation preserves the hymn's ancient beauty.
Prayer Text
LATINE
Veni, Creator Spiritus,
Mentes tuorum visita,
Imple superna gratia,
Quae tu creasti pectora.
Mentes tuorum visita,
Imple superna gratia,
Quae tu creasti pectora.
Qui diceris Paraclitus,
Altissimi donum Dei,
Fons vivus, ignis, caritas,
Et spiritalis unctio.
Altissimi donum Dei,
Fons vivus, ignis, caritas,
Et spiritalis unctio.
Tu septiformis munere,
Digitus paternae dexterae,
Tu rite promissum Patris,
Sermone ditans guttura.
Digitus paternae dexterae,
Tu rite promissum Patris,
Sermone ditans guttura.
Accende lumen sensibus:
Infunde amorem cordibus:
Infirma nostri corporis
Virtute firmans perpeti.
Infunde amorem cordibus:
Infirma nostri corporis
Virtute firmans perpeti.
Hostem repellas longius,
Pacemque dones protinus:
Ductore sic te praevio
Vitemus omne noxium.
Pacemque dones protinus:
Ductore sic te praevio
Vitemus omne noxium.
Per te sciamus da Patrem,
Noscamus atque Filium,
Teque utriusque Spiritum
Credamus omni tempore.
Noscamus atque Filium,
Teque utriusque Spiritum
Credamus omni tempore.
Deo Patri sit gloria,
Et Filio, qui a mortuis
Surrexit, ac Paraclito,
In saeculorum saecula. Amen.
Et Filio, qui a mortuis
Surrexit, ac Paraclito,
In saeculorum saecula. Amen.
ENGLISH
Come, O Creator Spirit blest!
And in our souls take up thy rest;
Come, with thy grace and heavenly aid,
To fill the hearts which Thou hast made.
And in our souls take up thy rest;
Come, with thy grace and heavenly aid,
To fill the hearts which Thou hast made.
Great Paraclete! to Thee we cry:
O highest gift of God most high!
O fount of life! O fire of love!
And solemn Unction from above!
O highest gift of God most high!
O fount of life! O fire of love!
And solemn Unction from above!
The sacred sevenfold grace is thine,
Dread Finger of the hand divine!
The promise of the Father Thou!
Who dost the tongue with power endow.
Dread Finger of the hand divine!
The promise of the Father Thou!
Who dost the tongue with power endow.
Our senses touch with light and fire;
Our hearts with charity inspire;
And, with endurance from on high,
The weakness of our flesh supply.
Our hearts with charity inspire;
And, with endurance from on high,
The weakness of our flesh supply.
Far back our enemy repel,
And let thy peace within us dwell;
So may we, having Thee for guide,
Turn from each hurtful thing aside.
And let thy peace within us dwell;
So may we, having Thee for guide,
Turn from each hurtful thing aside.
O may thy grace on us bestow
The Father and the Son to know,
And evermore to hold confess'd
Thyself of Each the Spirit blest.
The Father and the Son to know,
And evermore to hold confess'd
Thyself of Each the Spirit blest.
To God the Father praise be paid,
Praise to the Son who from the dead
Arose, and perfect praise to Thee,
O Holy Ghost, eternally. Amen.
Praise to the Son who from the dead
Arose, and perfect praise to Thee,
O Holy Ghost, eternally. Amen.
Liturgical Notes
NOTA
FONS
Breviarium Romanum (1962)
USUS
Attr. St. Gregory. Trans. Fr. E. Caswall. Sung at Terce during Pentecost and its Octave. The first strophe is sung kneeling.
HORA
Terce
TEMPVS
pentecost
GENVS
Hymn