Veni Creator Spiritus

There are strange reports, that cathedrals around the country are going to see Mass disrupted today, as "gay rights" activists have a hissy-fit over being able to engage in behavior that is not only unnatural, but dangerous to themselves and to the public health. Imagine an assembly imbued with a sufficiently Catholic sensibility, when faced with such malfeasance as to render the celebration of Mass momentarily impossible, spontaneously erupting in this traditional invocation of the Holy Spirit.*

Come, Holy Spirit, Creator blest,
and in our souls take up Thy rest;
come with Thy grace and heavenly aid
to fill the hearts which Thou hast made.

O comforter, to Thee we cry,
O heavenly gift of God Most High,
O fount of life and fire of love,
and sweet anointing from above.

Thou in Thy sevenfold gifts are known;
Thou, finger of God's hand we own;
Thou, promise of the Father, Thou
Who dost the tongue with power imbue.

Kindle our sense from above,
and make our hearts o'erflow with love;
with patience firm and virtue high
the weakness of our flesh supply.

Far from us drive the foe we dread,
and grant us Thy peace instead;
so shall we not, with Thee for guide,
turn from the path of life aside.

Oh, may Thy grace on us bestow
the Father and the Son to know;
and Thee, through endless times confessed,
of both the eternal Spirit blest.

Now to the Father and the Son,
Who rose from death, be glory given,
with Thou, O Holy Comforter,
henceforth by all in earth and heaven.

Amen.

Its authorship is attributed to Rabanus Maurus in the 9th century. It is sung not only at Pentecost, but at the entrance of the College of Cardinals to the Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope, the consecration of bishops, the ordination of priests and deacons, the confirmation of children, the dedication of churches, the celebration of synods or councils -- and at other solemn events, even the coronation of kings.

It is sung here by Doina Buzut and Lucia Starinski of Gloria.TV.

Included here is a homily for Pentecost from the previous year, given by Father Paul Scalia, pastor of Saint John the Beloved Church in McLean, Virginia.

(Depending on your web browser, it can also be accessed by clicking here.)

* This as opposed to some sophomoric charismatic ditty from the 1970s, like a bunch of dumb-@$$ aging hippies.
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