Veni Creator Spiritus

A blessed Pentecost to all. I found this good video with two traditional hymns sung in honour of the Holy Ghost, namely Veni Creator Spirtus (Come Creator Ghost), Veni Sancte Spiritus and Come Holy Ghost. I’m sure we know the third hymn very well, since we hear it at the Saturday Novena quite often. Still, I’d like to share with everyone the original Latin chants.

Veni Creator Spiritus

VENI, Creator Spiritus,
mentes tuorum visita,
imple superna gratia
quae tu creasti pectora.

Qui diceris Paraclitus,
altissimi donum Dei,
fons vivus, ignis, caritas,
et spiritalis unctio.

Tu, septiformis munere,
digitus paternae dexterae,
Tu rite promissum Patris,
sermone ditans guttura.

Accende lumen sensibus:
infunde amorem cordibus:
infirma nostri corporis
virtute firmans perpeti.

Hostem repellas longius,
pacemque dones protinus:
ductore sic te praevio
vitemus omne noxium.

Per te sciamus da Patrem,
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.

COME, Holy Ghost, Creator blest,
and in our souls take up Thy rest;
come with Thy grace and heavenly aid
to fill the hearts which Thou hast made.

O comforter, to Thee we cry,
O heavenly gift of God Most High,
O fount of life and fire of love,
and sweet anointing from above.

Thou in Thy sevenfold gifts are known;
Thou, finger of God’s hand we own;
Thou, promise of the Father, Thou
Who dost the tongue with power imbue.

Kindle our sense from above,
and make our hearts o’erflow with love;
with patience firm and virtue high
the weakness of our flesh supply.

Far from us drive the foe we dread,
and grant us Thy peace instead;
so shall we not, with Thee for guide,
turn from the path of life aside.

Oh, may Thy grace on us bestow
the Father and the Son to know;
and Thee, through endless times confessed,
of both the eternal Spirit blest.

Now to the Father and the Son,
Who rose from death, be glory given,
with Thou, O Holy Comforter,
henceforth by all in earth and heaven.
Amen.

The lyrics were taken from a site called Thesaurus Precum Latinarum. It is a most excellent site, with many Latin prayers and hymns. It is an excellent resource for those interested in the venerable Tradition of Mother Church. Even if Latin is not your cup of tea, it’s always good to appreciate the meaning behind these songs.

Oh, reciting this hymn on New Year’s Day or Pentecost grants a plenary indulgence. Under the usual conditions of course.

Veni Sancte Spiritus

Veni, Sancte Spiritus,
et emitte caelitus
lucis tuae radium.

Veni, pater pauperum,
veni, dator munerum
veni, lumen cordium.

Consolator optime,
dulcis hospes animae,
dulce refrigerium.

In labore requies,
in aestu temperies
in fletu solatium.

O lux beatissima,
reple cordis intima
tuorum fidelium.

Sine tuo numine,
nihil est in homine,
nihil est innoxium.

Lava quod est sordidum,
riga quod est aridum,
sana quod est saucium.

Flecte quod est rigidum,
fove quod est frigidum,
rege quod est devium.

Da tuis fidelibus,
in te confidentibus,
sacrum septenarium.

Da virtutis meritum,
da salutis exitum,
da perenne gaudium,
Amen, Alleluia.

Come, Holy Ghost,
send down those beams,
which sweetly flow in silent streams
from Thy bright throne above.

O come, Thou Father of the poor;
O come, Thou source of all our store,
come, fill our hearts with love.

O Thou, of comforters the best,
O Thou, the soul’s delightful guest,
the pilgrim’s sweet relief.

Rest art Thou in our toil, most sweet
refreshment in the noonday heat;
and solace in our grief.

O blessed Light of life Thou art;
fill with Thy light the inmost heart
of those who hope in Thee.

Without Thy Godhead nothing can,
have any price or worth in man,
nothing can harmless be.

Lord, wash our sinful stains away,
refresh from heaven our barren clay,
our wounds and bruises heal.

To Thy sweet yoke our stiff necks bow,
warm with Thy fire our hearts of snow,
our wandering feet recall.

Grant to Thy faithful, dearest Lord,
whose only hope is Thy sure word,
the sevenfold gifts of grace.

Grant us in life Thy grace that we,
in peace may die and ever be,
in joy before Thy face.
Amen. Alleluia.

This hymn is sung as a Sequence before the Alleluia during the Mass in the day for Pentecost. These days we merely recite these beautiful sequences. Why not sing them, and pray twice while at it?

Come Holy Ghost!

Easter Triduum 2008

Happy Easter boys and girls!

This year I missed Holy Thursday, as a result of guard duty. I booked out in the morning on Friday.

I went to my parish in the afternoon for the Stations of the Cross and the Good Friday service. I was there with Joshua, and we had only standing space. The choir was excellent. Hymns were quite orthodox. They sang Venantius Fortunatus’ Pange Lingua in English and another Latin hymn which I can’t figure. I have an axe to grind about the veneration of the cross. They did not let us kiss the cross, instead settling for a bow.

In the evening I attended the Tenebrae service at St Patrick’s School chapel. It was organized by the Schola. It was from seven thirty to ten pm. Very long indeed. I was getting quite fidgety halfway through, and was looking forward to the end. When the end arrived I was thoroughly jolted by the Strepitus(noise). Basically, the congregation will smash their missals against the pews to make loud noises. The symbolism behind all this is the earthquake which occurred after Christ died, and when the dead starting walking the earth. Yea, it really had its effect.

Tree, which solely wast found worthy
the world’s Victim to sustain.
harbor from the raging tempest!
ark, that saved the world again!
Tree, with sacred blood anointed
of the Lamb for sinners slain.

On Holy Saturday I attended the Mandarin Easter Vigil at Nativity. They had three readings instead of seven. I don’t know; it seems like I am losing my appetite for long liturgies.
We had Legion meeting after that. At nine thirty pm.

O vere beata nox, in qua terrenis caelestia, humanis divina iunguntur!