From the Rippling of the River

From the Rippling of the River is a hymn by the Catholic Priest, author, and hymn writer Reverend Father Henry Augustus Rawes (1826-1885). A convert from the Church of England, he was ordained a Catholic Priest in 1857. He was an original member of the English Congregation of Oblates of St. Charles, established the Church of St. Francis of Assisi (Notting Hill, London), and (with approval of Pope Leo XIII) founded the Confraternity of the Servants of the Holy Ghost in 1879. He composed a handbook for the society which contained devotions to the Holy Spirit. Among them was a "Little Office of the Holy Ghost" which utilized the following hymn. For each of the traditional hours of the Breviary, two verses where sung. No tune is specified, but it can sung to Drakes Broughton by Edward Elgar, as featured in the video below.


FROM THE RIPPLING OF THE RIVER

Matins

From the rippling of the river.
From the waving tree of life,
Gabriel came, a fiery splendour,
Came from God to Joseph's wife.

When with spirit, strong and tender.
Low he knelt in Mary's cell,
In the wondrous work of ages
Jesus came with us to dwell.

Lauds

Angels, kneeling by the manger,
Gazed upon the kingly Child;
Jesus, born of Virgin-Mother,
Looked up in her face and smiled.

Through long years He dwelt with Mary
In the holy home unseen;
Waiting for the time appointed.
Lived the lowly Nazarene.

Prime

On He went, with blessings laden,
In His sweetness and His might;
And the souls that lay in darkness
Saw the shining of His light.

Crucified and dead. He slumbered
Sweetly in His garden grave:
In His risen light ascending,
Blessings to His own He gave.

Terce

After ten long days of waiting
Came the Spirit from above;
For He would not leave them orphans,
And He brought them gifts of love.

Fount of truth and light and healing.
With His gifts that Spirit came;
Then the tongues of cloven brightness
Swiftly set their hearts on flame.

Sext

Then the sevenfold grace descended;
With it all their souls were filled;
And they gave their Master's message.
Speaking as the Spirit willed.

Forth they went in light and gladness.
Never ceasing, never dim;
Leaving every love for Jesus,
Giving every love to Him.

None

Reigneth over all the Spirit
Of the Father and the Son;
Yet in lowly hearts He dwelleth
Till the work of God be done.

Balsam of the true Physician,
Always, Holy Ghost, Thou art;
Healing every pain and sorrow.
Giving joy to every heart.

Vespers

Now the shades of evening deepen,
Now the night comes on apace;
Holy Spirit, give Thy servants
Thoughts of fire and gifts of grace.

Thou dost shine on those who love Thee,
Through the darkness of the night;
Holy Spirit, be our Helper,
Be our Everlasting Light.

Compline

May the Spirit, dwelling in us.
As the noonday, bright and clear,
Fill the souls of all His servants
Full of love and holy fear.

So when Jesus comes to judgment,
And before His throne we stand,
Words of gracious love will bring us
Safely to the Promised Land.

Poem: His Litany to the Holy Spirit

Sweet Spirit, Comfort Me!

His Litany to the Holy Spirit is by the English poet and Anglican Vicar, Robert Herrick (1591-1674). It was first published in his collection: Noble Numbers (1647), and is included in the Poems for All Seasons Appendix of the Divine Office (1974).


Choral setting by David Solomons

LITANY TO THE HOLY SPIRIT by Robert Herrick, 1647 (Public Domain)

In the hour of my distress,
When temptations me oppress,
And when I my sins confess,
       Sweet Spirit, comfort me!

When I lie within my bed,
Sick in heart and sick in head,
And with doubts discomforted,
       Sweet Spirit, comfort me!

When the house doth sigh and weep,
And the world is drown'd in sleep,
Yet mine eyes the watch do keep,
       Sweet Spirit, comfort me!

When the passing bell doth toll,
And the Furies in a shoal
Come to fright a parting soul,
       Sweet Spirit, comfort me!

When the tapers now burn blue,
And the comforters are few,
And that number more than true,
       Sweet Spirit, comfort me!

When the priest his last hath pray'd,
And I nod to what is said,
'Cause my speech is now decay'd,
       Sweet Spirit, comfort me!

When, God knows, I'm toss'd about
Either with despair or doubt;
Yet before the glass be out,
       Sweet Spirit, comfort me!

When the tempter me pursu'th
With the sins of all my youth,
And half damns me with untruth,
       Sweet Spirit, comfort me!

When the flames and hellish cries
Fright mine ears and fright mine eyes,
And all terrors me surprise,
       Sweet Spirit, comfort me!

When the Judgment is reveal'd,
And that open'd which was seal'd,
When to Thee I have appeal'd,
       Sweet Spirit, comfort me!

A Mighty Wind Invades the World

Painting by Jean II Restout - Courtesy of Wikipedia 

A Mighty Wind Invades the World is written by the Benedictine Nuns of Stanbrook Abbey. It is set to the traditional English melody: Herongate, as featured in the following video. In the Divine Office (1974), A Mighty Wind Invades the World is sung at Morning Prayer on Pentecost Sunday.


Tune: Herongate

Come, O Creator Spirit Blest / Ve­ni Cre­at­or Spir­it­us

Make Our Hearts O’erflow With Love

Come, O Creator Spirit Blest is a translation of the 9th century Latin Hymn, Ve­ni Cre­at­or Spir­it­us (see 2nd video) at­trib­ut­ed to Rha­ban­us Mau­rus (766-856). A 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 1849, the ancient Latin text was translated into English by Fr. Edward Caswall (1814-1878). It was included in his seminal work, the Lyra Ca­thol­i­ca: his collected translations of hymns from the Roman Breviary and Missal. The tune most associated with it is Lambillotte, written by the Belgium Jesuit, Fr. Louis Lambillotte (1797-1855). He was a composer and palaeographer of Church music. His efforts in palaeography involved the study, restoration, and standardizing of Gregorian Chant. Another translation of Ve­ni Cre­at­or Spir­it­us also used in the Liturgy of the Hours is Come, Holy Ghost, Creator, Come.


Tune: Lambillotte

COME, O CREATOR SPIRIT BLEST by Edward Caswall, 1849 (Public Domain)

1. Come, O Creator Spirit blest,
And in our souls take up Thy rest;
Come, with Thy grace and heavenly aid,
To fill the hearts which Thou hast made.

2. Great Comforter, to Thee we cry;
O highest gift of God most high,
O Fount of life, O Fire of love,
And sweet anointing from above!

3. The sacred sevenfold grace is Thine,
Dread finger of the hand divine;
The promise of the Father Thou,
Who dost the tongue with power endow.

4. Kindle our senses from above,
And make our hearts o’erflow with love;
With patience firm, and virtue high,
The weakness of our flesh supply.

5. Far from us drive the foe we dread,
And grant us Thy true peace instead;
So shall we not, with Thee for guide,
Turn from the path of life aside.

6. O may Thy grace on us bestow
The Father and the Son to know,
And evermore to hold confessed
Thyself of each the Spirit blest.

Gregorian Chant

VENI, CREATOR SPIRITUS - Rabanus Maurus, 9th century (Public Domain)

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.

Liturgical Guide: Pentecost

The hymns used at Pentecost in the Liturgy of the Hours celebrate the founding of the Church as Christ's Mystical Body, and the Father's sending of the Holy Spirit that will always remain with the Church, continually renewing, guiding, and pouring out his graces upon his people. In the following video, Fr. James Kubicki, SJ of the Apostleship of Prayer shares some of Pope Benedict XVI's refections on Pentecost from his Homily on Pentecost Sunday for 2009. Benedict reminds us that "Pentecost is distinguished from all the Solemnities by it's importance since what Jesus himself had announced as the purpose of the whole of his mission on Earth is brought about in it." What is his purpose? As he said in Luke 12: 49: "I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled!"



LITURGY OF THE HOURS (1975)
122. Hail Thee, Festival Day
127. Come, Holy Ghost, Creator, Come
128. The Spirit of God
129. Holy Spirit, God of Light
130. Splendor of Creation (Send Forth Your Spirit)

DIVINE OFFICE (1974)
A Mighty Wind Invades the World
Come Holy Ghost, Creator Come
Come, O Creator Spirit Blest

ROMAN BREVIARY (1962)
Veni Creator Spiritus
Veni Sancte Spiritus

Splendor of Creation (Send Forth Your Spirit)

Like a Cloud That Conceals Your Face

Splendor of Creation (Send Forth Your Spirit) was written by Fr. Lucien Deiss, C.S.Sp. (1921-2007). It was first published in 1965 as part of his collection: Biblical Hymns and Psalms, Volume I. His hymns are used throughout the Universal Church. They have been translated into many languages, an example of which is the spanish version, Oh Señor, Envía tu Espíritu (see video). In the Liturgy of the Hours, Send Forth Your Spirit (Splendor of Creation) is used at Pentecost.

Holy Spirit, God of Light / Veni Sancte Spiritus

Fill Us With Your Radiance Bright

Holy Spirit, God of Light is an Anthony G. Petti translation of the Latin Pentecost Sequence, Veni Sancte Spiritus (see 2nd video), attributed to the Catholic Archbishop of Canterbury, Stephen Langton (c. 1150-1228). He played a central role in the dispute between the Papacy and King John of England which led to the writing of the Magna Carta in 1215. He is also divided the books of the Bible into the chapter divisions still in use today. Holy Spirit, God of Light is set to the 1782 tune, Veni Sancte Spiritus by Samuel Webbe (1740-1816). A Catholic, Webbe also composed popular settings of O Salutaris and Tantum Ergo for use at Benediction. In the Liturgy of the Hours, Holy Spirit, God of Light is used at Pentecost.

 



VENI SANCTE SPIRITUS by Stephen Langton (Public Domain)

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

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

3. Consolator optime, dulcis hospes animae, dulce refrigerium.

4. In labore requies, in aestu temperies, in fletu solatium.

5. O lux beatissima, reple cordis intima tuorum fidelium.

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

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

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

9. Da tuis fidelibus, in te confidentibus, sacrum septenarium.

10. Da virtutis meritum, da salutis exitum, da perenne gaudium.

The Spirit of God

The Spirit of God Rests on Me

The Spirit of God was written by Lucien Deiss, C.S.Sp. (1921-2007). It was first published in 1970 as part of the collection: Biblical Hymns and Psalms, Volume II. Fr. Deiss was a Priest of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit. Known as Holy Ghost Fathers or Spiritans, from their founding in 1703, they have been dedicated to serving the poor and marginalized, and proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In the Liturgy of the Hours, The Spirit of God is used at Pentecost.

Come, Holy Ghost, Creator, Come / Veni Creator Spiritus

From Thy Bright Heavenly Home

Come, Holy Ghost, Creator, Come is an anonymous 1876 translation of the 9th century Latin hymn, Ve­ni Cre­at­or Spir­it­us attributed to Rabanus Maurus (766-856). A Benedictine monk and theologian who eventually became the Archbishop of Mainz; he is considered one of the most important writers of the Carolingian Age. Veni Creator Spiritus (Come Creator Spirit) is sung on Pentecost at Terce and Vespers in the Roman Breviary. As a solemn invocation of the Holy Spirit, it has long been used by the Church at the ordination of Priests, consecration of Bishops, and is the hymn sung by the Cardinals entering the Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope. Come, Holy Ghost, Creator, Come is sung to Tallis' Ordinal. Throughout England's most turbulent period of religious change, Thomas Tallis (c.1510-1585) remained one of it's most important writers of sacred music. As composer and organist in the Chapel Royal from 1543 until his death in 1585, he composed and performed for Henry VIII, Edward VI, Queen Mary, and Queen Elizabeth I. In 1549, Tallis was commissioned by Matthew Parker, the (Anglican) Bishop of Canterbury to compose new music which would eventually be included in the Book of Common Prayer. Of the 9 tunes, the last was for the English translation of Ve­ni Cre­at­or Spir­itus which was to be used during the Rite of Ordination of Priests and Consecration of Bishops. The original text begins: "Come Holy Ghost, eternal God, which dost from God proceed; the Father first and eke the Son, one God as we do read." In the Liturgy of the Hours, Come, Holy Ghost, Creator, Come is used at Pentecost. Another translation of Ve­ni Cre­at­or Spir­it­us also used in the Liturgy of the Hours is Come, O Creator Sprit Blest.

Tune: Tallis' Ordinal

COME, HOLY GHOST, CREATOR, COME - Anonymous, 1876 (Public Domain)

1. Come, Holy Ghost, Creator, come,
From thy bright heav’nly throne,
Come take possession of our souls,
And make them all thy own.

2. Thou who art called the Paraclete,
Best gift of God above,
The living spring, the living fire,
Sweet unction and true love.

3. Thou who art sevenfold in thy grace,
Finger of God’s right hand
His promise teaching little ones
To speak an understand.

4. O guide our minds with thy blessed light,
With love our hearts inflame;
And with thy strength, which never decays
Confirm our mortal frame.

5. Far from us drive our deadly foe;
True peach unto us bring;
And through all perils lead us safe
Beneath thy sacred wing.

6. Through thee may we the Father know,
Through thee the eternal Son,
And thee, the Spirit of them both,
Thrice-blessed Three in One.

7. All glory to the Father be,
With his coequal Son;
The same to thee, great Paraclete,
While endless ages run.



VENI, CREATOR SPIRITUS - Rabanus Maurus (Public Domain)

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.

Hail Thee, Festival Day / Salve, Festa Dies

Blest Day!

Hail Thee, Festival Day is a 1906 Anglican minister, Maurice F. Bell (1862-1947) translation of the Latin processional hymn for Easter, Sal­ve Fes­ta Di­es (sung by Schola Gregoriana Mediolanensis in the 2nd video) by Venan­ti­us For­tu­na­tus (c.530-c.609). After recovering from an eye ailment, in 565 he embarked on a pilgrimage from his native Italy to the Shrine of St. Martin of Tours, from whose intercession he attributed the healing. He became an important poet in the Merovingian Court and was eventually appointed Bishop of Poitiers. Although often referred to as a "Saint", he has never been formally canonized by the Church. The tune, Salve, Festa Dies was composed for Bell's text in 1906 by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958). In the Liturgy of the Hours, Hail Thee, Festival Day is used at Easter, Ascension, and Pentecost.

Tune: Salve, Festa Dies

HAIL THEE, FESTIVAL DAY by Maurice Bell, 1906 (Public Domain)

EASTER REFRAIN:
Hail thee, festival day!
Blessed day to be hallowed forever;
Day when our Lord was raised,
Breaking the kingdom of death.

ASCENSION REFRAIN:
Hail thee, festival day!
Blessed day to be hallowed forever;
Day when our risen Lord
Rose in the heavens to reign.

PENTECOST REFRAIN:
Hail thee, festival day!
Blessed day to be hallowed forever;
Day when the Holy Ghost
Shone in the world full of grace.

2. Lo, the fair beauty of the earth,
From the death of the winter arising!
Every good gift of the year
Now with its Master returns.

3. He who was nailed to the cross
Is Ruler and Lord of all people.
All things created on earth
Sing to the glory of God.

4. Daily the loveliness grows,
Adorned with glory of blossom;
Heaven her gates unbars,
Flinging her increase of light.

5. Rise from the grave now,
O Lord, The author of life and creation.
Treading the pathway of death,
New life You give to us all.

6. God the Almighty Lord,
The Ruler of earth and the heavens,
Guard us from harm without;
Cleanse us from evil within.

7. Jesus the health of the world,
Enlighten our minds, great
Redeemer, Son of the Father supreme,
Only begotten of God.

8. Spirit of life and of power,
Now flow in us, fount of our being,
Light that enlightens us all,
Life that in all may abide.

9. Praise to the giver of good!
O lover and author of concord,
Pour out your balm on our days;
Order our ways in your peace.



SALVE, FESTA DIES by Venantius Fortunatus (Public Domain)

REFRAIN:
Salve, festa dies, toto venerabilis aevo. qua deus infernum vicit et astra tenet

1. Ecce renascentis testatur gratia mundi omnia cum domino dona redisse suo.

2. Namque triumphanti post tristia Tartara Christo undique fronde nemus, gramina flore favent.

3. Legibus inferni oppressis super astra meantem laudant rite deum lux polus arva fretum.

4. Qui crucifixus erat, deus ecce per omnia regnat, dantque creatori cuncta creata precem. salve, festa dies.

5. Christe salus rerum, bone conditor atque redemptor, unica progenies ex deitate patris.

6. Qui genus humanum cernens mersisse profundo, ut hominem eriperes es quoque factus homo

7. Nec voluisti etenim tantum te corpore nasci, sed caro quae nasci, pertulit atque mori

8. Fexequias pateris vitae auctor et orbis, intras mortis iter dando salutis opem.

9. Tristia cesserunt infernae vincula legis expavitque chaos luminis ore premi.

10. Depereunt tenebrae Christi fulgore fugatae et tetrae noctis pallia crassa cadunt.

11. Pollicitam sed redde fidem, precor, alma potestas: tertia lux rediit, surge, sepulte meus.

12. Non decet. ut humili tumulo tua membra tegantur, neu pretium mundi vilia saxa premant.

13. Lintea, precor, sudaria linque sepulchro: tu satis es nobis et sine te nihil est.

14. Solvecatenatas inferni carceris umbras et revoca sursum quidquid ad ima ruit.

15. Redde tuam faciem, videant ut saecula lumen, redde diem qui nos te moriente fugit.

16. Sed plane inplesti remeans, pie victor, ad orbem: Tartara pressa iacent nec sua iura tenent.

17. Inferus insaturabiliter cava gruttura pandens, qui rapuit semper, fit tua praeda, deus.

18. Evomit absorptam trepide fera belua plebem et de fauce lupi subtrahit agrnus oves.

19. Rex sacer, ecce tui radiat pars magna triumphi, cum puras animas sancta lavacra beant

20. Candidus egreditur nitidis exercitus undis atque vetus vitium purgat in amne novo.

21. Fulgentes animas vestis quoque candida signat et grege de niveo gaudia pastor habet.