Scripture Verse

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

Introduction

Words: At­trib­ut­ed to Rha­ban­us Mau­rus, cir­ca 800 (Ve­ni Cre­at­or Spir­it­us, Men­tes tu­or­um vi­si­ta). Trans­lat­ed from La­tin to Eng­lish in The Book of Com­mon Pray­er, 1549.

Music: Tal­lis’ Or­di­nal Tho­mas Tal­lis, cir­ca 1567 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

  • St. Fla­vi­an Day’s Psal­ter, 1563 (🔊 pdf nwc)
portrait
Thomas Tallis (1505–1585)

Lyrics

Come, Ho­ly Ghost, eter­nal God,
Proceeding from above,
Both from the Fa­ther and the Son,
The God of peace and love;

Visit our minds, in­to our hearts
Thy heav’n­ly grace in­spire;
That truth and god­li­ness we may
Pursue with full de­sire.

Thou in Thy gifts art ma­ni­fold;
By them Christ’s Church doth stand;
In faith­ful hearts Thou writ’st Thy law,
The fin­ger of God’s hand.

According to Thy pro­mise, Lord,
Thou giv­est speech with grace,
That through Thy help God’s prais­es may
Resound in ev­ery place.

O Ho­ly Ghost, in­to our minds
Send down Thy heav’n­ly light;
Kindle our hearts with fer­vent zeal
To serve God day and night.

Our weak­ness strength­en and con­firm,
For, Lord, Thou know’st us frail;
That nei­ther de­vil, world, nor flesh,
Against us may pre­vail.

Put back our ene­my from us,
And help us to ob­tain
Peace in our hearts with God and man—
The best, the tru­est gain;

Of strife and of dis­sen­sion
Dissolve, O Lord, the bands,
And knit the knots of peace and love
Throughout all Chris­tian lands.

Grant us the grace that we may know
The Fa­ther of all might,
That we of His be­lov­èd Son
May gain the bliss­ful sight;

And that we may with per­fect faith
Ever ac­know­ledge Thee,
The Spir­it of Fa­ther, and of Son,
One God in Per­sons Three.

To God the Fa­ther laud and praise,
And to His bless­èd Son,
And to the Ho­ly Spir­it of grace,
Co-equal Three in One.