Words: Variously attributed to Charlemagne, , , and (Veni Creator Spiritus, Mentes tuorum visita); translated from Latin to English in The Book of Common Prayer, 1549.
Music: Tallis’ Ordinal, , circa 1567. Alternate tune:
Come, Holy Ghost, eternal God,
Proceeding from above,
Both from the Father and the Son,
The God of peace and love;
Visit our minds, into our hearts
Thy heav’nly grace inspire;
That truth and godliness we may
Pursue with full desire.
Thou in Thy gifts art manifold;
By them Christ’s Church doth stand;
In faithful hearts Thou writ’st Thy law,
The finger of God’s hand.
According to Thy promise, Lord,
Thou givest speech with grace,
That through Thy help God’s praises may
Resound in every place.
O Holy Ghost, into our minds
Send down Thy heav’nly light;
Kindle our hearts with fervent zeal
To serve God day and night.
Our weakness strengthen and confirm,
For, Lord, Thou know’st us frail;
That neither devil, world, nor flesh,
Against us may prevail.
Put back our enemy from us,
And help us to obtain
Peace in our hearts with God and man—
The best, the truest gain;
Of strife and of dissension
Dissolve, O Lord, the bands,
And knit the knots of peace and love
Throughout all Christian lands.
Grant us the grace that we may know
The Father of all might,
That we of His belovèd Son
May gain the blissful sight;
And that we may with perfect faith
Ever acknowledge Thee,
The Spirit of Father, and of Son,
One God in Persons Three.
To God the Father laud and praise,
And to His blessèd Son,
And to the Holy Spirit of grace,
Co-equal Three in One.