Veni, Sancte Spiritus, et emitte caelitus lucis tuae radium. Veni, pater pauperum, veni, dator munerum, veni, lumen cordium. Consolator optime, dulcis hospes animae, dulce refrigerium. In labore requies, in aestu temperies, in fletu solatium. O lux beatissima, reple cordis intima tuorum fidelium. Sine tuo numine, nihil est in homine, nihil est innoxium. Lava quod est sordidum, riga quod est aridum, sana quod est saucium. Flecte quod est rigidum, fove quod est frigidum, rege quod est devium. Da tuis fidelibus, in te confidentibus, sacrum septenarium. Da virtutis meritum, da salutis exitum, da perenne gaudium. Amen. Alleluia.
The Golden Sequence
Called the 'Golden Sequence' for its perfection — the medieval sequence sung at the Mass of Pentecost. Distinct from the Veni Creator.
Come, 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 bosoms shine! Thou of comforters the best, Thou the soul's most welcome guest, Sweet refreshment here below; In our labour rest most sweet, Grateful 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 hath naught, 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 the faithful, who adore And confess Thee, evermore In Thy sevenfold gifts descend; Give them virtue's sure reward, Give them Thy salvation, Lord, Give them joys that never end. Amen. Alleluia.
Ven, Espíritu divino, manda tu luz desde el cielo. Padre amoroso del pobre; don, en tus dones espléndido; luz que penetra las almas; fuente del mayor consuelo. Ven, dulce huésped del alma, descanso de nuestro esfuerzo, tregua en el duro trabajo, brisa en las horas de fuego, gozo que enjuga las lágrimas y reconforta en los duelos. Entra hasta el fondo del alma, divina luz, y enriquécenos. Mira el vacío del hombre, si tú le faltas por dentro; mira el poder del pecado, cuando no envías tu aliento. Riega la tierra en sequía, sana el corazón enfermo, lava las manchas, infunde calor de vida en el hielo, doma el espíritu indómito, guía al que tuerce el sendero. Reparte tus siete dones, según la fe de tus siervos; por tu bondad y tu gracia, dale al esfuerzo su mérito; salva al que busca salvarse y danos tu gozo eterno. Amén.
Vieni, Santo Spirito, manda a noi dal cielo un raggio della tua luce. Vieni, padre dei poveri, vieni; datare dei doni, vieni, luce dei cuori. Consolatore perfetto, ospite dolce dell'anima, dolcissimo sollievo. Nella fatica, riposo, nella calura, riparo, nel pianto, conforto. O luce beatissima, invadi nell'intimo il cuore dei tuoi fedeli. Senza la tua forza, nulla è nell'uomo, nulla senza colpa. Lava ciò che è sordido, bagna ciò che è arido, sana ciò che sanguina. Piega ciò che è rigido, scalda ciò che è gelido, raddrizza ciò ch'è sviato. Dona ai tuoi fedeli che solo in te confidano i tuoi santi doni. Dona virtù e premio, dona morte santa, dona gioia eterna. Amen.
(Sequência de Pentecostes) Vinde, ó santo Espírito, vinde Amor ardente, acendei na terra vossa luz fulgente. Vinde, Pai dos pobres: na dor e aflições, vinde encher de gozo nossos corações. Benfeitor supremo em todo o momento, habitando em nós sois o nosso alento. Descanso na luta e na paz encanto, no calor sois brisa, conforto no pranto. Luz de santidade, que no Céu ardeis, abrasai as almas dos vossos fiéis, Sem a vossa força e favor clemente, nada há no homem que seja inocente. Lavai nossas manchas, a aridez regai, sarai os enfermos e a todos salvai. Abrandai durezas para os caminhantes, animai os tristes, guiai os errantes. Vossos sete dons concedei à alma do que em Vós confia: Virtude na vida, amparo na morte, no Céu alegria.
Viens, Esprit Saint, et envoie du haut du ciel un rayon de ta lumière. Viens, Père des pauvres, viens, dispensateur des dons, viens, lumière de nos cœurs. Consolateur souverain, hôte très doux de nos âmes, adoucissante fraîcheur. Dans le labeur, le repos; dans la fièvre, la fraîcheur; dans les pleurs, le réconfort. Ô lumière bienheureuse, viens remplir jusqu’à l’intime le cœur de tous tes fidèles. Sans ta puissance divine, il n’est rien en aucun homme, rien qui ne soit perverti. Lave ce qui est souillé, baigne ce qui est aride, guéris ce qui est blessé. Assouplis ce qui est raide, réchauffe ce qui est froid, rends droit ce qui est faussé. À tous ceux qui ont la foi et qui en toi se confient donne tes sept dons sacrés. Donne mérite et vertu, donne le salut final, donne la joie éternelle. Amen.
Komm herab, o Heil’ger Geist, der die finstre Nacht zerreißt, strahle Licht in diese Welt. Komm, der alle Armen liebt, komm, der gute Gaben gibt, komm, der jedes Herz erhellt. Höchster Tröster in der Zeit, Gast, der Herz und Sinn erfreut, köstlich Labsal in der Not, in der Unrast schenkst du Ruh, hauchst in Hitze Kühlung zu, spendest Trost in Leid und Tod. Komm, o du glückselig Licht, fülle Herz und Angesicht, dring bis auf der Seele Grund. Ohne dein lebendig Wehn kann im Menschen nichts bestehn, kann nichts heil sein noch gesund. Was befleckt ist, wasche rein, Dürrem gieße Leben ein, heile du, wo Krankheit quält. Wärme du, was kalt und hart, löse, was in sich erstarrt, lenke, was den Weg verfehlt. Gib dem Volk, das dir vertraut, das auf deine Hilfe baut, deine Gaben zum Geleit. Lass es in der Zeit bestehn, deines Heils Vollendung sehn und der Freuden Ewigkeit. Amen.
At the Mass of Pentecost Sunday and throughout its octave; at the Mass of Christian Initiation and Confirmation.
Distinct from the older Veni Creator Spiritus, the Veni Sancte Spiritus is a 'sequence' — a hymn sung between the second reading and the Gospel at certain Masses. It was composed at the turn of the 13th century, traditionally ascribed to Stephen Langton (the Archbishop of Canterbury who drafted Magna Carta) or to Pope Innocent III.
It is one of only four sequences retained in the post-Tridentine Roman Missal (the others being Victimae Paschali Laudes for Easter, Lauda Sion for Corpus Christi, and Stabat Mater for the Sorrows of Mary). Medieval and modern Latinists alike have called it the most beautiful hymn ever written — Pope Benedict XIV called it 'the Golden Sequence' for its perfect form and content.
