Catholic Daily Mass Take up and read
Hymn to the Holy Spirit

Veni Creator Spiritus

The Church's great hymn to the Holy Spirit — 'Come, Holy Ghost, Creator blest' — from the ninth century, most often ascribed to Rabanus Maurus, sung at Pentecost and at every solemn descent of the Spirit: the election of popes, the ordination of priests, the opening of councils.

The prayer

Come, Holy Ghost, Creator blest, and in our hearts 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, thou heavenly gift of God most high, thou fount of life, and fire of love, and sweet anointing from above.

Where it comes from

The dated sources the library holds, oldest first — in their own words.

  1. 850
    Ascribed to Rabanus Maurus

    The hymn is most often ascribed to Rabanus Maurus (d. 856), Abbot of Fulda and Archbishop of Mainz; the manuscript evidence carries it back to the ninth century.

  2. 1,000
    The hymn of the Church's great moments

    By the Middle Ages Veni Creator Spiritus is sung at Pentecost and at the Church's most solemn acts — the election of a pope, the consecration of bishops, the ordination of priests, the dedication of churches, and the opening of synods and councils.

  3. 1,913
    The Catholic Encyclopedia Catholic
    1907–1914
    “The hymn has also been attributed to St. Ambrose and to St. Gregory the Great, but without real evidence for either ascription.”
    Source