Veni, Sancte Spiritus

Veni Sancte Spiritus is the traditional Sequence sung on Pentecost Sunday and its octave. It is sometimes attributed to Stephen Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury. Here is a translation by J.M. Neale:

Come, Thou holy Paraclete,

And from Thy celestial seat

Send Thy light and brilliancy:

‍

Father of the poor, draw near;

Giver of all gifts, be here;

Come, the soul’s true radiancy.

‍

Come, of comforters the best,

Of the soul the sweetest guest,

Come in toil refreshingly:

‍

Thou in labour rest most sweet,

Thou art shadow from the heat,

Comfort in adversity.

‍

O Thou Light, most pure and blest,

Shine within the inmost breast

Of Thy faithful company.

‍

Where Thou art not, man hath nought;

Every holy deed and thought

Comes from Thy divinity.

‍

What is soilèd, make Thou pure;

What is wounded, work its cure;

What is parchèd, fructify;

‍

What is rigid, gently bend;

What is frozen, warmly tend;

Strengthen what goes erringly.

‍

Fill Thy faithful, who confide

In Thy power to guard and guide,

With Thy sevenfold mystery.

‍

Here Thy grace and virtue send:

Grant salvation to the end,

And in Heav’n felicity.