When the day of Pentecost had come, the disciples were all together in one place. Suddenly, there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:1-4
This Sunday we celebrate the Day of Pentecost. In anticipation, today’s Musical Moment is devoted to the Holy Spirit, wind, breath, and one of the great hymns from the Church’s treasury of hymnody.
The hymn, “Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire,” began as the Latin hymn “Veni Creator Spiritus” (Come Creator Spirit) in the 9th century. Here is the English version found in our hymnal (#504):
Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire, and lighten with celestial fire. Thou the anointing Spirit art, who dost thy sevenfold gifts impart.
Thy blessed unction from above is comfort, life, and fire of love. Enable with perpetual light the dullness of our blinded sight.
Anoint and cheer our soiled face with the abundance of thy grace. Keep far our foes, give peace at home: where thou art guide, no ill can come.
Teach us to know the Father, Son, and thee, of both, to be but One, that through the ages all along, this may be our endless song:
Praise to thy eternal merit, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Click on the link to hear All Saints choir member Will Tell sing selected stanzas of this beautiful hymn. Then, watch the video to find out what the rushing wind of the Holy Spirit described in Acts and the pipe organ have in common!
Be filled with the spirit!
Peter
