Religion

Holy Spirit, come with power

by Anonymous Latin Hymns c. 5th–15th century

Translated by John Brownlie (1896) · From Hymns of the Early Church (1896)

Religion

Holy Spirit, come with power;
Let Thy light, in darkest hour,
Shine upon our onward way.
Father of the humble heart,
Come, Thy choicest gifts impart—
Light our hearts with heavenly ray.

Thou canst best the heart console;
Sweet Thy sojourn with the soul—
Cooling breath at noon of day,
Calm Thy rest in toil and care,
Soft Thy shade in noontide glare—
Thou dost chase our tears away.

O! Thou blessed Light of light!
Let Thy beams in radiance bright
Fill our inmost heart for aye.
If Thou come not with Thy grace,
Nought of worth can take Thy place,
Nought but leads the soul astray.

What is filthy, come, renew;
What is parched, with grace bedew;
Heal the wounded in the way.
What is stubborn, gently bend;
To the chilled the life-glow send;
Bring the erring 'neath Thy sway.

To the faithful who repose
In the love Thy grace bestows,
Be Thy sevenfold gift alway—
Rich reward for service given,
Hope in death and joy in heaven,
Joy untold that lasteth aye.

✦ ✦ ✦

Latin: Veni, Sancte Spiritus et emitte cœlitus. Brownlie: a sequence whose authorship is disputed (Robert II of France, Hermannus Contractus and others have been named). Author unknown.

MLA

Anonymous Latin Hymns. “Holy Spirit, come with power.” Translated by John Brownlie. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-latin-hymns/29/.

Chicago

Anonymous Latin Hymns. “Holy Spirit, come with power.” Translated by John Brownlie. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-latin-hymns/29/.

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