The organist librarian

A fine translation by Sr Irene Nowell OSB Veni Sancte Spiritus, Et emitte caelitus Lucis tuae radium Come, Holy Spirit, And send out from heaven Your radiant light. Veni pater pauperum, Veni dator munerum, Veni lumen cordium. Come, father of the poor, Come, giver of gifts, Come, light of our hearts. Consolator optime, Dulcis hospes animae, Dulce refrigerium. Best consoler, Sweet guest of the soul, Sweetness of cool refreshment. In labore requies, In aestu temperies, In fletu solatium. Rest in labor, Relief in heat, Consolation in weeping. O lux beatissima, Reple cordis intima Tuorum fidelium. O most blessed light, Fill the center of the hearts Of your faithful. Sine tuo numine, Nihil est in homine, Nihil est innoxium. Without your divine power, There is nothing in humans, Nothing is innocent. Lava quod est sordidum, Riga quod est aridum, Sana quod est saucium. Wash what is soiled, Water what is dry, Heal what is wounded. Flecte quod est rigidum, Fove quod est frigi...

Come down O love divine, seek thou this soul of mine... Let earthly passions turn to dust and ashes in its heat consuming... 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. Bianco da Siena (d.1434) Come, Holy Spirit! Come, Father and Mother of the poor! Come, our sweet refreshment, our solace in the midst of woe, our light in darkness. Healer of our wounds, dew upon our dryness, warmth for our cold hearts. A version of Veni Sancte Spiritus the sequence for Pentecost by Carroll Stuhlmueller, C.P. Caroll Stuhlmueller's daily Biblical meditations on the readings of the day have been my companion since 1997 (10 years!) and they are still in print and worth getting! He has a gift for linking the readings together. This week has been very special with Into great silence, Gerontius, confirmation, Othello, Pat Gaffney and the Queen's gallery. ...