Come, Holy Ghost, Who Ever One / Nunc Sancte Nobis Spiritus

Art with the Father and the Son

Come, Holy Ghost, Who Ever One is a translation from the original latin by Blessed John Henry Newman of Nunc Sanc­te no­bis Spir­it­us (see 2nd and 3rd videos) by St. Ambrose (c340-397). It was first published in Tracts for the Times (1836). Attributed to Ambrose of Milan, it was included in the Latin Breviary as the hymn sung during Terce, for it was at the 3rd hour (9AM) that the Holy Spirit defended upon the Apostles at Pentecost. It is set to the tune, O Jesu mi dulcissime from a collection of German Catholic hymns published in 1643, the Clausener Gesangbuch. It is better known in it's setting sung to the tune Wareham (see 1st video). In the Liturgy of the Hours, Come, Holy Ghost, Who Ever One is used during Ordinary Time for Daytime Midmorning Prayer.


Tune: Wareham

COME, HOLY GHOST, WHO EVER ONE by John Henry Newman, 1836 (Public Domain)

Come, Holy Ghost, who ever One
Art with the Father and the Son;
Come, Holy Ghost, our souls possess
With thy full flood of holiness.

In will and deed, by heart and tongue,
With all our powers, thy praise be sung;
And love light up our mortal frame,
Till others catch the living flame.

Almighty Father, hear our cry
Through Jesus Christ our Lord most high,
Who with the Holy Ghost and thee
Doth live and reign eternally. Amen.


Ambrosian Chant

NUNC, SANCTE, NOBIS SPIRITUS attributed to St. Ambrose (Public Domain)

Nunc, Sancte, nobis, Spiritus,
Unum Patri cum Filio,
Dignare promptus ingeri
Nostro refusus pectori.

Os, lingua, mens, sensus, vigor
Confessionem personent.
Flammescat igne caritas,
Accéndat ardor proximos.

Præsta, Pater piissime,
Patríque compar Unice,
Cum Spiritu Paraclito
Regnans per omne sæculum. Amen.


Gregorian Chant