Veni Sancte Spiritus

LatineThe Latin text

Veni, Sancte Spíritus,
et emítte cǽlitus
lucis tuæ rádium.

Veni, pater páuperum,
veni, dator múnerum,
veni, lumen córdium.

Consolátor óptime,
dulcis hospes ánimæ,
dulce refrigérium.

In labóre réquies,
in æstu tempéries,
in fletu solácium.

O lux beatíssima,
reple cordis íntima
tuórum fidélium.

Sine tuo númine,
nihil est in hómine,
nihil est innóxium.

Lava quod est sórdidum,
riga quod est áridum,
sana quod est sáucium.

Flecte quod est rígidum,
fove quod est frígidum,
rege quod est dévium.

Da tuis fidélibus,
in te confidéntibus,
sacrum septenárium.

Da virtútis méritum,
da salútis éxitum,
da perénne gáudium. Amen. Allelúia.

EnglishTranslation

Come, Holy Spirit, and send forth from heaven the ray of Thy light.

Come, Father of the poor; come, giver of gifts; come, light of hearts.

Thou best Consoler, sweet guest of the soul, sweet coolness.

In labor, rest; in heat, refreshment; in tears, solace.

O most blessed Light, fill the inmost heart of Thy faithful.

Without Thy divine assistance there is nothing in man, nothing harmless.

Cleanse what is base, bedew what is parched, heal what is wounded.

Bend what is rigid, warm what is chilled, guide what is astray.

Give to Thy faithful, who trust in Thee, the sacred sevenfold gift.

Give the reward of virtue, give the outcome of salvation, give everlasting joy. Amen. Alleluia.

Attributed to Stephen Langton, early 13th century — the complete sequence · English partly after M. Britt, O.S.B. (1922)

I

The Golden Sequence

Veni Sancte Spiritus has been called the Golden Sequence for the sheer beauty of its Latin — short, chiming lines that fall like rays of light. It is the sequence sung at Mass on Pentecost, the feast of the Holy Spirit's descent, standing between the second reading and the Gospel.

The whole hymn is a single sustained invocation: come, come, come. It calls the Spirit under a dozen names — light, comforter, guest of the soul, sweet refreshment, rest in labour, coolness in heat — and then asks for the 'sacred sevenfold gift', the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, and for the joy that has no end.

II

Its history

The sequence is usually attributed to Stephen Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury, in the early thirteenth century, though it was once credited to popes and kings — a sign of how quickly it was treasured. It is one of only a handful of sequences the Church retained when it pruned the vast medieval repertoire.

Its survival is no accident. Few texts say so much with so little: every line is seven syllables, and yet the hymn holds a complete theology of the Spirit's work in the soul — cleansing what is unclean, watering what is dry, healing what is wounded.

III

When it is sung

Veni Sancte Spiritus is sung as the sequence at the Mass of Pentecost (and, in the older rite, throughout its octave), and it is often prayed whenever the Church invokes the Holy Spirit — at ordinations, confirmations, councils, and the opening of any work begun in His name.

It should not be confused with the older hymn Veni Creator Spiritus; the two are companions, the hymn of the Hours and the sequence of the Mass, both crying the same 'Come.'

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Questions

On the Veni Sancte Spiritus.

Why is it called the Golden Sequence?

Because of the exceptional beauty and polish of its Latin verse. It is widely regarded as the finest of the medieval sequences.

When is Veni Sancte Spiritus sung?

It is the sequence at Mass on Pentecost Sunday (and, in the older rite, through its octave), and is used whenever the Holy Spirit is solemnly invoked.

How is it different from Veni Creator Spiritus?

Veni Creator Spiritus is the ancient hymn of the Holy Spirit used in the Liturgy of the Hours and at ordinations; Veni Sancte Spiritus is the Pentecost sequence sung within the Mass. Both are invocations of the Spirit.

Repertorium

The other chants.

All chants →

The Penitential CryKyrie EleisonThe Cry for Mercy The Antiphon of MortalityMedia VitaIn the Midst of Life The Hymn of InvocationVeni Creator SpiritusThe Invocation of the Spirit The Marian AntiphonSalve ReginaThe Evening Antiphon The Sequence of JudgmentDies IraeThe Day of Wrath The Cry of AdventRorate CaeliThe Cry of Advent A Child Is BornPuer Natus EstA Child Is Born The Lenten PleaAttende DomineThe Lenten Plea The Hymn of the SacramentPange LinguaThe Hymn of the Sacrament The Easter AntiphonRegina CaeliThe Easter Antiphon The Hidden GodheadAdoro Te DevoteThe Hidden Godhead Hail, True BodyAve Verum CorpusHail, True Body Star of the SeaAve Maris StellaStar of the Sea The Great ThanksgivingTe DeumThe Great Thanksgiving