Pray to the Holy Spirit with the Pentecost sequence

The feast of Pentecost has a special sequence that is a beautiful work of prayer.

On various feasts throughout the year, the Church has a tradition to recite or sing a special “sequence.” On Pentecost, the sequence is entitled Veni, Sancte Spiritus and invokes the Holy Spirit, asking for the Spirit to come and refresh our weary hearts.

The sequence dates back to at least the 13th century and has been used in the liturgy on the feast of Pentecost ever since.

While often these hymns can go by quickly during the liturgy, in truth these are prayers and can be prayed privately as well, opening our hearts to the dwelling of the Spirit.

Come, Holy Spirit, come!
And from your celestial home
Shed a ray of light divine!
Come, Father of the poor!
Come, source of all our store!
Come, within our bosoms shine.
You, of comforters the best;
You, the soul’s most welcome guest;
Sweet refreshment here below;
In our labor, rest most sweet;
Grateful coolness in the heat;
Solace in the midst of woe.
O most blessed Light divine,
May that light within us shine
And our inmost being fill!
Where you are not, we have naught,
Nothing good in deed or thought,
Nothing free from taint and ill.
Heal our wounds, our strength renew;
On our dryness pour your dew;
Wash the stains of guilt away:
Bend the stubborn heart and will;
Melt the frozen, warm the chill;
Guide the steps that go astray.
On the faithful, who adore
And confess you, evermore
In your sevenfold gift descend;
Give them virtue’s sure reward;
Give them your salvation, Lord;
Give them joys that never end.
Amen. Alleluia.