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.

Love of the Father, Love of the Son

In Whom Was All Begun

Love of the Father, Love of God the Son is a translation of an anonymous 12th century Latin poem, Amor, Patris et Filii, Veri Splendor. Manuscripts of the poem have been uncovered in a various locations including one originating from Thame Ab­bey, a Cistercian abbey in Oxfordshire, UK that was dissolved in 1539. In 1899 it was translated into English by poet and playwright, Ro­bert S. Bridg­es (1844-1930). His words are set to the tune: Song 22, composed in 1623 by the English composer Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625). An example of the melody can be heard in the following video at the 3:35 min mark. In the Divine Office, Love of the Father, Love of the Son is used with Morning and Evening Prayer.


Tune: Song 22 (starts at the 3:35 min mark)

LOVE OF THE FATHER, LOVE OF THE SON by Ro­bert Bridg­es, 1899 (Public Domain)

1. Love of the Father, Love of God the Son,
from whom all came, in whom was all begun;
who formest heavenly beauty out of strife,
creation's whole desire and breath of life:

2. Thou the All-holy, thou supreme in might,
thou dost give peace, thy presence maketh right;
thou with thy favor all things dost enfold,
with thine all-kindness free from harm wilt hold.

3. Hope of all comfort, splendor of all aid,
that dost not fail nor leave the heart afraid:
to all that cry thou dost all help accord,
the angels' armor and the saints' reward.

4. Purest and highest, wisest and most just,
there is no truth save only in thy trust;
thou dost the mind from earthly dreams recall,
and bring, through Christ, to him for whom are all.

5. Eternal Glory, all men thee adore,
who art and shalt be worshiped evermore:
us whom thou madest, comfort with thy might,
and lead us to enjoy thy heavenly light.

My Loving Savior

Bitter Death and Shameful Crucifixion 

My Loving Savior is an Anthony G. Petti adaption of the Robert Bridges (1844-1930) 1897 translation, Ah, Holy Jesus, How Hast Thou Offended of the 1630 German hymn: Herzliebster Jesu by the Lutheran minister, Johann Heermann (1585-1647). In 1640 it was set to music by Johann Crüger (1598-1662). His tune, Herzliebster Jesu has since been adapted by many composers including: JS Bach (St. Matthew Passion), Johannes Brahms (Chorale Preludes for Organ), and Max Reger (Seven Pieces for Organ). In the Liturgy of the Hours, My Loving Savior is used during Holy Week.

Tune: Herzliebster Jesu

AH, HOLY JESUS, HOW HAST THOU OFFENDED by Robert Bridges, 1897 (Public Domain)

1. Ah, holy Jesus, how hast thou offended,
that man to judge thee hath in hate pretended?
By foes derided, by thine own rejected,
O most afflicted.

2. Who was the guilty? Who brought this upon thee?
Alas, my treason, Jesus, hath undone thee.
'Twas I, Lord Jesus, I it was denied thee:
I crucified thee.

3. Lo, the Good Shepherd for the sheep is offered;
the slave hath sinned, and the Son hath suffered;
for our atonement, while we nothing heedeth,
God intercedeth.

4. For me, kind Jesus, was thy incarnation,
thy mortal sorrow, and thy life's oblation;
thy death of anguish and thy bitter passion,
for my salvation.

5. Therefore, kind Jesus, since I cannot pay thee,
I do adore thee, and will ever pray thee,
think on thy pity and thy love unswerving,
not my deserving.

Alternative Tune