Veni Sancte Spiritus

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Veni Sancte Spiritus, sometimes called the "Golden Sequence," is a sequence prescribed for the Roman Catholic Mass of Pentecost. It is usually attributed to either the 13th century Pope Innocent III or to the Archbishop of Canterbury Stephen Langton, although it has been attributed to others as well.

Veni Sancte Spiritus is one of only four medieval Sequences which were preserved in the Missale Romanum published in 1570 following the Council of Trent (1545-63). Before Trent many feasts had their own sequences.^[1] It is still sung today.

It has been arranged by a number of composers, especially during the Renaissance, including Dufay, Josquin, Willaert, Palestrina, Lassus, and Victoria.

[edit] Text

Latin text	English version
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.	Come, Holy Ghost, send forth the heavenly radiance of your light. Come, father of the poor, come giver of gifts, come, light of the heart. Greatest comforter, sweet guest of the soul, sweet consolation. In labor, rest, in heat, temperance, in tears, solace. O most blessed light, fill the inmost heart of your faithful. Without your divine will, there is nothing in man, nothing is harmless. Wash that which is unclean, water that which is dry, heal that which is wounded. Bend that which is inflexible, warm that which is chilled, make right that which is wrong. Give to your faithful, who rely on you, the sevenfold gifts. Give reward to virtue, give salvation at our passing on, give eternal joy. Amen. Alleluia.

Latin text

English version

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.

Come, Holy Ghost,

send forth the heavenly

radiance of your light.

Come, father of the poor,

come giver of gifts,

come, light of the heart.

Greatest comforter,

sweet guest of the soul,

sweet consolation.

In labor, rest,

in heat, temperance,

in tears, solace.

O most blessed light,

fill the inmost heart

of your faithful.

Without your divine will,

there is nothing in man,

nothing is harmless.

Wash that which is unclean,

water that which is dry,

heal that which is wounded.

Bend that which is inflexible,

warm that which is chilled,

make right that which is wrong.

Give to your faithful,

who rely on you,

the sevenfold gifts.

Give reward to virtue,

give salvation at our passing on,

give eternal joy.

Amen. Alleluia.

[edit] References

^ David Hiley, Western Plainchant : A Handbook (OUP, 1993), II.22, pp.172-195

[edit] External links

H.T. Henry. Veni Sancte Spiritus, in the Catholic Encyclopedia (1917)
John Caldwell: 'Veni Sancte Spiritus', Grove Music Online ed. L. Macy (Accessed 28 June 2006), <http://www.grovemusic.com>