One of the most important, ancient chants of the Church’s liturgy is the hymn Veni, Creátor Spíritus, which means, “Come, Creator Spirit!” The chant is generally attributed to St. Rabanus Maurus, a ninth-century monk and archbishop. In the centuries since, the hymn customarily has been used on the days surrounding Pentecost, New Year’s Day, priestly ordinations, papal conclaves, ecumenical councils, and more. The English hymn Come, Holy Ghost is loosely based on this ancient prayer, but the Latin chant remains a valuable part of our tradition. If you were to learn only one Latin hymn, this should probably be the one!

Here are just a few moments in Catholic history where the Veni, Creátor Spíritus has featured prominently: While reciting the hymn in about 1556, St. Teresa of Avila experienced one of her most powerful encounters with God, which helped to inspire her reform of the Carmelite order and her writings on prayer. The eighteenth-century French priest St. Louis Marie de Montfort had a deep devotion to the hymn and recommended it as part of his 33-day preparation for total consecration to Jesus through Mary, which countless Catholics have prayed since. More recently the Catholic Charismatic Renewal was launched in 1967 when a group of students from Duquesne University had a powerful experience of Baptism in the Holy Spirit while fervently praying the Latin hymn. In other words, the Veni, Creátor Spíritus is a chant that has made its mark in Catholic history!

As we approach the Solemnity of Pentectost, I’d highly encourage you to pray or sing this ancient chant. Below you will find the official Latin version of this chant, along with a very good translation from the Divine Office Hymnal that can be sung to the same tune. You’ll also find a video of the chant, so that you can listen and sing along. Come, Holy Spirit! To see the score of the chant, which was used in the image for this article, go to GregoBase, a database of Gregorian chant scores.

Latin Text (Solesmes, 1983)

Veni, creátor Spíritus,
mentes tuórum vísita,
imple supérna grátia,
quӕ tu creásti péctora.

Qui díceris Paráclitus,
donum Dei altíssimi,
fons vivus, ignis, caritas
et spiritáls únctio.

Tu septifórmis múnere
déxtrӕ Dei tu digitus,
tu rite promíssum Patris
sermóne ditans gúttura.

Accénde lumen sénsibus,
infúnde amórem córdibus,
infírma notri córporis,
virtúte firmans pérpeti.

Hóstem repéllas lóngius
pacémque dones prótinus;
ductóre sic te prǽvio
vitémus omne nóxium.

Per te sciámus da Patrem
noscámus atque Fílium,
te utriúsque Spíritum
credámus omi témpore.

Amen.

English Translation (Divine Office Hymnal, 2023)

O come, Creator Spirit blest,
come, visit souls that are your own;
fill all the hearts that you have made
with grace and blessing from on high.

For you are called the Paraclete,
the holy gift of God most High,
the living wellspring, love, and fire,
the soul’s anointing from above.

In graces you are sevenfold,
the Finger of God’s strong right hand,
and you, the Father’s promised one,
adorn our tongues with gracious speech.

Come, fill our senses with your light
pour forth your love into our hearts,
the weakness of our mortal frame
make strong with pow’r that never fails.

Drive far from us our deadly foe
and swiftly grant us lasting peace;
with you to guide and lead the way,
may we avoid all harm and sin.

Now through your presence may we know
and love the Father and the Son;
and you, the Spirit of them both,
may we profess throughout all time.

Amen.