Come Spirit Blest, with God the Son / Nunc, Sancte, Nobis Spiritus

Painting by Carlo Dolci - Courtesy of Wikipedia

Come Spirit Blest, with God the Son is an 1852 translation by the Anglican priest, scholar and hymn-writer John M. Neale of the Office hymn for Terce: Nunc Sanc­te No­bis Spir­it­us, attributed to St. Am­brose of Mi­lan (337-397). In the Divine Office (1974), Come Spirit Blest with God the Son is used with the Office of Readings. The recommended musical setting is the tune: St. Ambrose. An alternative tune that can also be used is Eisenach, as featured in the following video.


Alternative Tune: Eisenach

COME, HOLY GHOST, WITH GOD THE SON by John M. Neale, 1852 (Public Domain)

1. Come, Holy Ghost, with God the Son
And God the Father, ever One;
Shed forth Thy grace within our breast,
And dwell with us a ready Guest.

2. By every power, by heart and tongue,
By act and deed, Thy praise be sung;
Inflame with perfect love each sense,
That others’ souls may kindle thence.

3. O Father, that we ask be done,
Through Jesus Christ, Thine only Son,
Who, with the Holy Ghost and Thee,
Shall live and reign eternally.


Ambrosian Chant

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

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

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

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


Gregorian Chant