Monday, May 28, 2012

Veni Sancte Spiritus

Veni Sancte Spiritus (Come, Holy Spirit!), is a sequence prescribed in the Roman Liturgy for the Masses of Pentecost.  It is sung between the 2nd reading and the Gospel.  It is also often sung at Confirmations.

It's authorship is usually attributed to either the thirteenth-century Pope Innocent III or to the Archbishop of Canterbury Stephen Langton, although it has been attributed to others as well.

Below is version of Veni Sancte Spiritus which was composed by Liam Lawton, Tony Alonso & Chris de Silva from their album Castle of the Soul: Songs of Contemplation and Consolation.  The entire album is awesome and great for background music when you need to get work done (read: great for comp studying).  It is available on iTunes.  The translated lyrics (which are beautiful) are also below.



Lyrics

Come, O Holy Spirit, come!
From your bright and blissful Home
Rays of healing light impart.

Come, Father of the poor,
Source of gifts that will endure
Light of ev'ry human heart.

You, of all consolers best,
Of the soul, most kindly Guest,
Quick’ning courage do bestow.

In hard labor You are rest,
In the heat You refresh best,
And solace give in our woe.

O most blessed Light divine,
Let Your radiance in us shine,
And our inmost being fill.

Nothing good by man is thought,
Nothing right by him is wrought,
When he spurns Your gracious Will.

Cleanse our souls from sinful stain,
Lave our dryness with Your rain
Heal our wounds and mend our way.

Bend the stubborn heart and will,
Melt the frozen, warm the chill,
Guide the steps that go astray.

On the faithful who in You,
Trust with childlike piety,
Deign your sevenfold gift to send.

Give them virtue’s rich increase,
Saving grace to die in peace,
Give them joys that never end. Amen. Alleluia.