Veni Creator Spiritus
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.
4. Accende lumen sensibus,
infunde amorem cordibus,
infirma nostri corporis,
virtute firmans perpeti.
5. Hostem repellas longius
pacemque dones protinus;
ductore sic te praevio
vitemus omne noxium.
6. Per te sciamus da Patrem
noscamus atque Filium,
te utriusque Spiritum
credamus omni tempore.
7. Deo Patri sit gloria,
et Filio qui a mortuis
Surrexit, ac Paraclito,
in saeculorum saecula.
Amen.
V. Emitte Spiritum tuum, et creabuntur:
R. Et renovabis faciem terrae.
Oremus
Deus qui corda fidelium Sancti Spiritus illustratione docuisti: da nobis in eodem Spiritu recta sapere, et de eius semper consolatione gaudere. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum, Filium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate eiusdem Spiritus Sancti Deus. Per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.
Click here for an English translation.
This is a famous Catholic Gregorian chant hymn, actually the Vespers hymn for the feast of Pentecost. This is not to be confused with another of the Church's beautiful chants, Veni Sancte Spiritus, which is the Sequence of Pentecost.
Not only used during vespers, this hymn is traditionally sung during ordinations to the priesthood, while the Bishop imposes his hands on each of the ordinands and actually imprints the priestly character on their souls. It is sung on the occasion of another sacrament as well - that of Confirmation. Either as the entrance or exit hymn, or during the ceremony itself.
This hymn is very ancient, having been written by Rabanus Maurus (776-856). He was born over 12 centuries ago! America was founded about 2 centuries ago, to give a comparison.
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