109 VENI, CREATOR SPIRITUS,
MENTES TUORUM VISITA
Of the authorship of this grand hymn nothing unquestioned is known. It has been ascribed to Ambrose, Gregory, Rhabanus Maurus (died 856), and Charlemagne. The most widely prevalent opinion ascribes it to the last-named person, but in the judgment of Dr. Julian’s assistant-editor “the hymn is clearly not the work of St. Ambrose nor of Charles the Great. Nor is there sufficient evidence to allow us to ascribe it either to Gregory the Great, to Rhabanus Maurus, or to any of the ecclesiastics connected with the court of Charles the Fat.” The hymn has not yet been found in any MS. earlier than the latter part of the tenth century.
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| Come, Thou Creator Spirit blest, And with Thy grace our minds pervade; May Thy sweet presence ever dwell Within the souls which Thou hast made. | | Thou Holy Paraclete! the Gift Sent down to earth from God Most High, Thou Font of Life and fire and love, Thy holy unction now apply. | | Sevenfold Thy gifts to us are given, Of God’s right hand the Finger Thou; The promise of the Father’s grace, With gifts of tongues, Thou dost endow. | | Make our dull sense enraptured glow, And let our hearts o’erflow with love; The weakness of our flesh inspire With heavenly valour from above. | | Far from our souls the foe repel, And let us know the bliss of peace; Guide Thou our steps, that evermore Our hearts may learn from sin to cease. | | Lead us the Father’s love to know; Reveal to us the Eternal Son; And Thee, the Sent of both, we’ll praise, While everlasting ages run. | |