A Catholic Land

Veni Sancte Spiritu.

Veni Sancte Spiritu
(known as “the Golden Sequence)

Come, Thou Holy Spirit, come,
And from Thy celestial home
Shed a ray of light divine.
Come, Thou Father of the poor,
Come, Thou source of all our store,
Come, within our bosom's shrine,
Thou of comforters the best,
Thou the soul's delightful guest,
Sweet refreshment here below.
In our labour rest most sweet,
Pleasant coolness in the heat,
Solace in the midst of woe.
O most blessed Light divine.
Shine within these hearts of Thine,
And our inmost being fill.
Where Thou art not, man have nought.
Nothing good in deed or thought,
Nothing free from taint of ill.
Heal our wounds, our strength renew,
On our dryness pour Thy dew,
Wash the stains of guilt away.
Bend the stubborn heart and will,
Melt the frozen, warm the chill,
Guide the steps that go astray.
On Thy faithful who adore,
And confess Thee evermore,
In Thy sevenfold gifts descend.
Give them virtues sure reward,
Give them Thy salvation, Lord,
Give them joys that never end.
Amen. Alleluia.

Attributed to Pope Innocent III. (c.1160-1216 )Also to Cardinal Stephen Langton (c.1150-1228)
Archbishop of Canterbury. et al.