Attributed to Rabanus Maurus, 9th century

Veni Creator Spiritus — Come, Creator Spirit

The hymn to the Holy Spirit: Pentecost, ordinations, conclaves

LatinEnglish

Veni, Creator Spiritus,
mentes tuorum visita,
imple superna gratia,
quae tu creasti pectora.

Come, Creator Spirit,
visit the minds of thy faithful,
fill with grace from on high
the hearts which thou hast made.

Qui diceris Paraclitus,
altissimi donum Dei,
fons vivus, ignis, caritas,
et spiritalis unctio.

Thou who art called the Paraclete,
gift of God most high,
living fountain, fire, charity,
and anointing of the soul.

Tu septiformis munere,
digitus paternae dexterae,
tu rite promissum Patris,
sermone ditans guttura.

Thou, sevenfold in thy gifts,
finger of the Father’s right hand,
thou, the Father’s sure promise,
enriching our lips with speech.

Accende lumen sensibus,
infunde amorem cordibus,
infirma nostri corporis
virtute firmans perpeti.

Kindle a light in our senses,
pour love into our hearts,
and strengthen the weakness of our flesh
with thy unfailing power.

Hostem repellas longius,
pacemque dones protinus;
ductore sic te praevio
vitemus omne noxium.

Drive our enemy far away
and grant us peace without delay;
so, with thee as our guide before us,
may we shun all that does harm.

Per te sciamus da Patrem,
noscamus atque Filium,
teque utriusque Spiritum
credamus omni tempore.

Through thee may we know the Father,
and know the Son as well,
and thee, the Spirit of them both,
may we believe at all times.

Deo Patri sit gloria,
et Filio, qui a mortuis
surrexit, ac Paraclito,
in saeculorum saecula. Amen.

Glory be to God the Father,
and to the Son, who from the dead
rose again, and to the Paraclete,
for ever and ever. Amen.

℣. Emitte Spiritum tuum et creabuntur.
℟. Et renovabis faciem terrae.
Oremus. Deus, qui corda fidelium Sancti Spiritus illustratione docuisti, da nobis in eodem Spiritu recta sapere, et de eius semper consolatione gaudere. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

℣. Send forth thy Spirit and they shall be created.
℟. And thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
Let us pray. O God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit didst instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Spirit we may be truly wise and ever rejoice in his consolation. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

SourceAttributed to Rabanus Maurus, 9th century · The hymn to the Holy Spirit: Pentecost, ordinations, conclaves

The history of this prayer

The Veni Creator Spiritus is the Church’s great hymn to the Holy Spirit. It is attributed to Rabanus Maurus (c. 780–856), Benedictine monk of Fulda and later Archbishop of Mainz, and probably dates from the early ninth century.

The Church sings it in the Office of Pentecost and whenever she asks for the light of the Spirit: at the ordination of bishops and priests, as the cardinals enter the conclave, at the opening of councils and synods and at religious professions.

The Enchiridion of Indulgences grants a plenary indulgence to those who devoutly recite or sing the Veni Creator publicly on 1 January or on the solemnity of Pentecost, under the usual conditions (confession, Communion and prayer for the Pope’s intentions); on other days the indulgence is partial.

Martin Luther made a German paraphrase of it, “Komm, Gott Schöpfer, Heiliger Geist”, published in 1524 — a sign of how deeply the hymn was rooted in the whole Western Church. In Church Latin, “digitus” is said “DEE-jee-toos” and “caritas” “KAH-ree-tahs”.

Frequently asked questions

Who wrote the Veni Creator Spiritus?

It is attributed to Rabanus Maurus, monk of Fulda and Archbishop of Mainz, in the ninth century.

Is there an indulgence for the Veni Creator?

Yes. Recited or sung publicly on 1 January or at Pentecost, a plenary indulgence under the usual conditions; on other days, a partial one.

What is the difference between Veni Creator and Veni Sancte Spiritus?

The Veni Creator is an Office hymn used at ordinations and conclaves; the Veni Sancte Spiritus is the sequence of the Pentecost Mass, sung before the Gospel.

More prayers: Hymns

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