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John Brownlie

VENI, CREATOR SPIRITUS,
MENTES TUORUM VISITA

Of the authorship of this grand hymn nothing unquestioned is known. It has been ascribed to Ambrose, Gregory, Rhabanus Maurus (died 856), and Charlemagne. The most widely prevalent opinion ascribes it to the last-named person, but in the judgment of Dr. Julian’s assistant-editor “the hymn is clearly not the work of St. Ambrose nor of Charles the Great. Nor is there sufficient evidence to allow us to ascribe it either to Gregory the Great, to Rhabanus Maurus, or to any of the ecclesiastics connected with the court of Charles the Fat.” The hymn has not yet been found in any MS. earlier than the latter part of the tenth century.

I

Come, Thou Creator Spirit blest,

And with Thy grace our minds pervade;

May Thy sweet presence ever dwell

Within the souls which Thou hast made.

II

Thou Holy Paraclete! the Gift

Sent down to earth from God Most High,

Thou Font of Life and fire and love,

Thy holy unction now apply.

III

Sevenfold Thy gifts to us are given,

Of God’s right hand the Finger Thou;

The promise of the Father’s grace,

With gifts of tongues, Thou dost endow.

IV

Make our dull sense enraptured glow,

And let our hearts o’erflow with love;

The weakness of our flesh inspire

With heavenly valour from above.

V

Far from our souls the foe repel,

And let us know the bliss of peace;

Guide Thou our steps, that evermore

Our hearts may learn from sin to cease.

VI

Lead us the Father’s love to know;

Reveal to us the Eternal Son;

And Thee, the Sent of both, we’ll praise,

While everlasting ages run.

VENI, SANCTE SPIRITUS ET EMITTE CŒLITUS

A sequence universally regarded as one of the masterpieces of sacred Latin poetry. As in the case of the Veni, Creator Spiritus, the authorship is matter of dispute. Robert II. of France, Hermannus Contractus (born 1013, died 1054), Stephen Langton the Archbishop of Canterbury, Pope Innocent III.—these have all in turn been credited with its production. Dr. Julian, the greatest living authority, sums up the matter of authorship thus: “The sequence is clearly not earlier than about the beginning of the thirteenth century. It is certainly neither by Robert II. nor by Hermannus Contractus. The most probable author is Innocent III.”

I

Holy Spirit, come with power;

Let Thy light, in darkest hour,

Shine upon our onward way.

Father of the humble heart,

Come, Thy choicest gifts impart—

Light our hearts with heavenly ray.

II

Thou canst best the heart console;

Sweet Thy sojourn with the soul—

Cooling breath at noon of day,

Calm Thy rest in toil and care,

Soft Thy shade in noontide glare—

Thou dost chase our tears away.

III

O! Thou blessed Light of light!

Let Thy beams in radiance bright

Fill our inmost heart for aye.

If Thou come not with Thy grace,

Nought of worth can take Thy place,

Nought but leads the soul astray.

IV

What is filthy, come, renew;

What is parched, with grace bedew;

Heal the wounded in the way.

What is stubborn, gently bend;

To the chilled the life-glow send;

Bring the erring ’neath Thy sway.

V

To the faithful who repose

In the love Thy grace bestows,

Be Thy sevenfold gift alway—

Rich reward for service given,

Hope in death and joy in heaven,

Joy untold that lasteth aye.

O FONS AMORIS, SPIRITUS

By Charles Coffin. (See p. 3.) It is a recast of the Nunc nobis, Sancte Spiritus of St. Ambrose.

I

O Holy Spirit, font of love,

Thou source of life, and joy, and peace,

With holy fire come from above,

And bid our hearts their warmth increase.

II

O Thou who didst with love’s strong cord

Unite the Father and the Son,

May we who love a common Lord,

In mutual love be bound in one.

III

Now to the Father throned on high,

And unto Christ His only Son,

And to the Spirit, glory be,

Now, and while endless ages run.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

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