They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
Acts 2:2–3
Words: Bianco of Siena (?–1434) (Discendi, Amor santo). Appeared in Laudi spirituali del Bianco da Siena, edited by Telesforo Bini, 1851. Translated from Italian to English by Richard F. Littledale in The People’s Hymnal, 1867.
Music: Down Ampney Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906 (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a good picture of Littledale or Bianco of Siena (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
Come down, O love divine,
Seek Thou this soul of mine,
And visit it with Thine
Own ardor glowing.
O Comforter, draw near,
Within my heart appear,
And kindle it,
Thy holy flame bestowing.
O let it freely burn,
Til earthly passions turn
To dust and ashes
In its heat consuming;
And let Thy glorious light
Shine ever on my sight,
And clothe me round,
The while my path illuming.
Let holy charity mine
Outward vesture be,
And lowliness become
Mine inner clothing;
True lowliness of heart,
Which takes the humbler part,
And o’er its own shortcomings
Weeps with loathing.
And so the yearning strong,
With which the soul will long,
Shall far outpass the power
Of human telling;
For none can guess its grace,
Till he become the place
Wherein the Holy Spirit
Makes His dwelling.