Veni creator Spiritus

Pentecost, the Church's birthday, is something to celebrate! The below words by Benedict XVI should help us reflect whether we i.e. priests and laity, are celebrating it in a worthy manner.

“The Church is most truly itself in the liturgy, as it is the place where God comes to us and enters our lives.  Let us remember that the liturgy is celebrated for God, not for us; it is His work; He is its subject.”   

Benedict XVI, General Audience, 3 October 2012.

Veni creator Spiritus

This is a famous Catholic Gregorian chant hymn, actually the Vespers hymn for the feast of Pentecost. It 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 also usually sung on the occasion of Confirmation. Veni creator Spiritus was written by Rabanus Maurus (776-856).

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.