Come, O Creator Spirit, Come / Veni Creator Spiritus

Make Within Our Heart Thy Home

Come, O Creator Spirit, Come is a translation of the 9th century Latin hymn: Veni Creator Spiritus (see 2nd video), attributed to Rha­ban­us Mau­rus (766-856). A Frankish Benedictine monk and theologian, he eventually became the Archbishop of Mainz and is considered one of the most important writers of the Carolingian Age. In 1899 it was translated into English by the British poet and playwright, Ro­bert S. Bridg­es (1844-1930). It is set to the 1848 adaptation of the ancient plainchant: Veni Creator (Mechlin), first published in the Ves­per­ale Ro­man­um Cum Can­tu Emen­da­to (Mec­hlin, Bel­gium). In the Divine Office, Come, O Creator Spirit, Come is sung at Morning Prayer.


Tune: Veni Creator (Mechlin)

COME, O CREATOR SPIRIT, COME by Robert Bridges, 1899 (Public Domain)

1. Come, O Creator Spirit, come,
and make within our heart thy home;
to us thy grace celestial give,
who of thy breathing move and live.

2. O Comforter, that name is thine,
of God most high the gift divine;
the well of life, the fire of love,
our souls' anointing from above.

3. Thou dost appear in sevenfold dower
the sign of God's almighty power;
the Father's promise, making rich
with saving truth our earthly speech.

4. Our senses with thy light inflame,
our hearts to heavenly love reclaim;
our bodies' poor infirmity
with strength perpetual fortify.

5. Our mortal foes afar repel,
grant us henceforth in peace to dwell;
and so to us, with thee for guide,
no ill shall come, no harm betide.

6. May we by thee the Father learn,
and know the Son, and thee discern,
who art of both; and thus adore
in perfect faith for evermore.


Gregorian Chant

VENI, CREATOR SPIRITUS - Rabanus Maurus, 9th century

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.

All People that on Earth Do Dwell

Sing to the Lord with Cheerful Voice

All People Who on Earth Do Dwell is written by Wil­liam Kethe (d.1608?). Likely born in Scotland, Kethe was a Protestant exile who lived on the continent during the reign of Queen Mary (1542-1587). While in Switzerland he helped translate the Geneva Bible (which predates the KJV by 51 years) and translated twenty-five of the Psalms from French into English verse; one of which was Psalm 100, better know as All People Who on Earth Do Dwell. In 1561 it was included in the Anglo-Genevan Psalter, which was published to serve the expatriate English Protestant community living there. It is set to the the tune that Lou­is Bour­geois (c.1510–1560) had originally composed for Psalm 134 in John Calvin's Genevan Psalter of 1551. The melody has since become so closely associated with Kethe's paraphrase of Psalm 100, that the tune is known as the Old Hundredth. In the Divine Office it is sung at Morning Prayer.

Tune: Old Hundredth

ALL PEOPLE THAT ON EARTH DO DWELL by William Kethe, 1561 (Public Domain)

1. All people that on earth do dwell,
Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice.
Him serve with fear, His praise forth tell;
Come ye before Him and rejoice.

2. The Lord, ye know, is God indeed;
Without our aid He did us make;
We are His folk, He doth us feed,
And for His sheep He doth us take.

3. O enter then His gates with praise;
Approach with joy His courts unto;
Praise, laud, and bless His Name always,
For it is seemly so to do.

4. For why? the Lord our God is good;
His mercy is for ever sure;
His truth at all times firmly stood,
And shall from age to age endure.

5. To Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
The God Whom Heaven and earth adore,
From men and from the angel host
Be praise and glory evermore.

When God Made Man, He Gave Him All the Earth

Creation with Tremendous Voice Cries Out

When God Made Man, He Gave Him All the Earth is written by the Benedictine Nuns of Stanbrook Abbey. It is set to the 1919 tune: Woodlands by the English composer, musician and educator; Walter Greatorex (1877-1949). In the Divine Office, When God Made Man, He Gave Him All the Earth is used with Evening Prayer.


Tune: Woodlands