Scripture Verse

I will ask the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter. John 14:16

Introduction

portrait
Edward Caswall
1814–1878
National Portrait Gallery

button

Words: At­trib­ut­ed to Rha­ban­us Maur­us, cir­ca 800 (Ve­ni Cre­at­or Spi­rit­us, Men­tes tu­or­um vi­si­ta). Trans­lat­ed from La­tin to En­glish by Ed­ward Cas­wall, Ly­ra Ca­tho­li­ca, 1849. This hymn was sung in the 1944 film The Keys of the King­dom, which re­ceived an Aca­de­my Award nom­in­ation.

Music: Grace Church Ig­naz J. Pley­el, 1815 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

portrait
Ignaz J. Pleyel
1757–1831

Lyrics

Come, O Creator Spirit blest,
And in our souls take up Thy rest;
Come, with Thy grace and heavenly aid,
To fill the hearts which Thou hast made.

Great Comforter, to Thee we cry;
O highest gift of God most high,
O Fount of life, O Fire of love,
And sweet anointing from above!

The sacred sevenfold grace is Thine,
Dread finger of the hand divine;
The promise of the Father Thou,
Who dost the tongue with power endow.

Kindle our senses from above,
And make our hearts o’erflow with love;
With patience firm, and virtue high,
The weakness of our flesh supply.

Far from us drive the foe we dread,
And grant us Thy true peace instead;
So shall we not, with Thee for guide,
Turn from the path of life aside.

O may Thy grace on us bestow
The Father and the Son to know,
And evermore to hold confessed
Thyself of each the Spirit blest.