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Veni Creator Spiritus

also known as Come, Creator Spirit, Veni, Creator Spiritus

Veni Creator Spiritus, mentes tuorum visita; imple superna gratia quae tu creasti pectora.

Come, Creator Spirit, visit the minds of your own; fill with heavenly grace the hearts which you have created.

Qui Paracletus diceris, donum Dei altissimi, fons vivus, ignis, caritas, et spiritalis unctio.

You who are called the Comforter, gift of God most high, living fountain, fire, charity, and spiritual anointing.

Tu septiformis munere, dextrae Dei tu digitus, tu rite promissum Patris, sermone ditans guttura.

You, sevenfold in your gifts, finger of God's right hand, you, the Father's solemn promise, enriching throats with speech.

Accende lumen sensibus, infunde amorem cordibus, infirma nostri corporis virtute firmans perpeti.

Kindle a light in our senses, pour love into our hearts, strengthening the weakness of our body with enduring power.

Hostem repellas longius, pacemque dones protinus; ductore sic te praevio, vitemus omne noxium.

Drive the enemy far away, and grant us peace at once; with you as our guide going before us, may we avoid all harm.

Per Te sciamus da Patrem, noscamus atque Filium, te utriusque Spiritum credamus omni tempore.

Through you may we know the Father, and come to know the Son, and may we believe in you, the Spirit of them both, at all times.

Deo Patri sit gloria, et Filio quia mortuis surrexit, ac Paraclito, in saeculorum saecula. Amen.

Glory be to God the Father, and to the Son who rose from the dead, and to the Comforter, forever and ever. Amen.

About the Veni Creator Spiritus

The Veni Creator Spiritus is the Church's most solemn hymn to the Holy Spirit, traditionally ascribed to the ninth-century monk and archbishop Rabanus Maurus. In seven verses it calls upon the Spirit — Creator, Gift of God, living fount, and fire of love — to come and fill the hearts of the faithful. The Church sings it at Pentecost and at every moment when she most needs the Spirit's light: ordinations, the dedication of churches, the opening of councils, and the election of a Pope.

When prayed: Sung at Pentecost, at ordinations and confirmations, at the dedication of churches and the opening of synods and conclaves, and on the first day of the year — wherever the Church invokes the Holy Spirit upon a new work.

Line-by-line translation

The Latin text of the Veni Creator Spiritus alongside its English translation, line by line.

Latin English
Veni Creator Spiritus, mentes tuorum visita; imple superna gratia quae tu creasti pectora. Come, Creator Spirit, visit the minds of your own; fill with heavenly grace the hearts which you have created.
Qui Paracletus diceris, donum Dei altissimi, fons vivus, ignis, caritas, et spiritalis unctio. You who are called the Comforter, gift of God most high, living fountain, fire, charity, and spiritual anointing.
Tu septiformis munere, dextrae Dei tu digitus, tu rite promissum Patris, sermone ditans guttura. You, sevenfold in your gifts, finger of God's right hand, you, the Father's solemn promise, enriching throats with speech.
Accende lumen sensibus, infunde amorem cordibus, infirma nostri corporis virtute firmans perpeti. Kindle a light in our senses, pour love into our hearts, strengthening the weakness of our body with enduring power.
Hostem repellas longius, pacemque dones protinus; ductore sic te praevio, vitemus omne noxium. Drive the enemy far away, and grant us peace at once; with you as our guide going before us, may we avoid all harm.
Per Te sciamus da Patrem, noscamus atque Filium, te utriusque Spiritum credamus omni tempore. Through you may we know the Father, and come to know the Son, and may we believe in you, the Spirit of them both, at all times.
Deo Patri sit gloria, et Filio quia mortuis surrexit, ac Paraclito, in saeculorum saecula. Amen. Glory be to God the Father, and to the Son who rose from the dead, and to the Comforter, forever and ever. Amen.

Vocabulary

Word-by-word definitions and example uses. Tap any word to learn its meaning, then return to the prayer with new ears.

veni

Definition: come

Veni huc. (Come here.)

creator

Definition: creator

Creatorem laudamus. (We praise the creator.)

spiritus

Definition: spirit

Spiritus movet. (The spirit moves.)

mentes

Definition: minds

Mentes sunt clarae. (The minds are clear.)

tuorum

Definition: of yours

Libri tuorum sunt hic. (The books of yours are here.)

visita

Definition: visit

Visita amicos. (Visit friends.)

imple

Definition: fill

Implere calix. (Fill the cup.)

superna

Definition: heavenly

Superna gloria. (Heavenly glory.)

gratia

Definition: grace

Gratia est magna. (Grace is great.)

quae

Definition: which

Quae librum legunt. (They who read the book.)

tu

Definition: you

Tu es amicus. (You are a friend.)

creasti

Definition: created

Creati sunt caeli. (The heavens were created.)

pectora

Definition: hearts

Pectora sana. (Healthy hearts.)

qui

Definition: who

Qui venit. (Who comes.)

paracletus

Definition: comforter

Paracletus adest. (The comforter is here.)

diceris

Definition: you are called

Doctor diceris. (You are called Doctor.)

donum

Definition: gift

Donum accipio. (I receive the gift.)

dei

Definition: of God

Templum Dei. (The temple of God.)

altissimi

Definition: highest

Altissimi laudes. (Praises of the highest.)

fons

Definition: fountain

Fons est clarus. (The fountain is clear.)

vivus

Definition: living

Vivus homo. (Living man.)

ignis

Definition: fire

Ignis uritur. (The fire burns.)

caritas

Definition: charity

Caritas omnia pervenit. (Charity reaches all.)

et

Definition: and

Mare et caelum. (Sea and sky.)

spiritalis

Definition: spiritual

Cursus spiritalis. (Spiritual journey.)

unctio

Definition: anointing

Unctio est sacra. (The anointing is sacred.)

tu

Definition: you

Tu scribis. (You write.)

septiformis

Definition: sevenfold

Septiformis gratia. (Sevenfold grace.)

munere

Definition: gift, service

Munere fungi. (To perform a service.)

dextrae

Definition: right hand

Dextrae fortis. (The right hand is strong.)

digitus

Definition: finger

Digitus indicat. (The finger points.)

rite

Definition: rightly

Rite agis. (You act rightly.)

promissum

Definition: promise

Promissum servo. (I keep the promise.)

patris

Definition: of the father

Domus patris. (The house of the father.)

sermone

Definition: speech, word

Sermone nuncius. (Messenger's word.)

ditans

Definition: enriching

Ditans sapientia. (Enriching wisdom.)

guttura

Definition: throats

Guttura sicca. (Dry throats.)

accende

Definition: kindle

Accende lumine. (Kindle with light.)

lumen

Definition: light

Lumen lucet. (The light shines.)

sensibus

Definition: senses

Sensibus fruor. (I enjoy the senses.)

infunde

Definition: pour in

Infunde oleum. (Pour in the oil.)

amorem

Definition: love

Amorem sentio. (I feel love.)

cordibus

Definition: hearts

Cordibus suavis est. (It is sweet to the hearts.)

infirma

Definition: weakness

Infirma sunt. (They are weak.)

nostri

Definition: our

Nostri amicitia. (Our friendship.)

corporis

Definition: body

Corporis sanitas. (Health of the body.)

virtute

Definition: strength

Virtute fortis. (Strong in strength.)

firmans

Definition: strengthening

Firmans fundamenta. (Strengthening the foundations.)

perpeti

Definition: enduring

Perpeti labor. (Enduring work.)

hostem

Definition: enemy

Hostem vincemus. (We will conquer the enemy.)

repellas

Definition: drive away

Bestias repelle. (Drive away the beasts.)

longius

Definition: farther

Longius audit. (He hears farther.)

pacemque

Definition: and peace

Bellum et pacemque. (War and peace.)

dones

Definition: give

Dones cibum. (Give food.)

protinus

Definition: immediately

Protinus veniunt. (They come immediately.)

ductore

Definition: leader

Ductore bono. (With a good leader.)

sic

Definition: thus

Sic est. (Thus it is.)

te

Definition: you

Te video. (I see you.)

praevio

Definition: preceding

Praevio lumine. (With preceding light.)

vitemus

Definition: let us avoid

Vitemus periculum. (Let us avoid danger.)

omne

Definition: all, every

Omne tempus. (Every time.)

noxium

Definition: harmful

Noxium est venenum. (The poison is harmful.)

per

Definition: through

Per viam. (Through the way.)

sciamus

Definition: let us know

Sciamus viam. (Let us know the way.)

da

Definition: give

Da veniam. (Give pardon.)

patrem

Definition: father

Patrem voco. (I call the father.)

noscamus

Definition: let us know

Noscamus veritatem. (Let us know the truth.)

atque

Definition: and, also

Mare atque caelum. (Sea and sky.)

filium

Definition: son

Filium amo. (I love the son.)

te

Definition: you

Te video. (I see you.)

utriusque

Definition: of both

Utriusque consilium. (The counsel of both.)

spiritum

Definition: spirit

Spiritum sanctum. (The holy spirit.)

credamus

Definition: let us believe

Credamus in Deum. (Let us believe in God.)

omni

Definition: every, all

Omni tempore. (At all times.)

tempore

Definition: time

Tempore verno. (In the springtime.)

deo

Definition: to God

Gratias Deo. (Thanks to God.)

patri

Definition: father

Patri gratias. (Thanks to the father.)

sit

Definition: let it be

Sit pax. (Let there be peace.)

gloria

Definition: glory

Gloria in excelsis. (Glory in the highest.)

et

Definition: and

Terra et caelum. (Earth and sky.)

filio

Definition: son

Filii carus. (The son is dear.)

quia

Definition: because

Quia verum est. (Because it is true.)

mortuis

Definition: dead

Mortuis honorem. (Honor to the dead.)

surrexit

Definition: rose

Surrexit a mortuis. (He rose from the dead.)

ac

Definition: and

Vita ac libertas. (Life and freedom.)

paraclito

Definition: to the comforter

Ad Paraclito oro. (I pray to the comforter.)

in

Definition: in

In domo. (In the house.)

saeculorum

Definition: ages

Saeculorum memoria. (Memory of the ages.)

saecula

Definition: ages

In saecula saeculorum. (Forever and ever.)

amen

Definition: amen

Concludit: Amen. (He concludes: Amen.)

About the Veni Creator Spiritus

What is the Veni Creator Spiritus?

The Veni Creator Spiritus — 'Come, Creator Spirit' — is the principal hymn of the Roman Church invoking the Holy Spirit. Across seven verses it begs the Spirit to come down upon the faithful, to enlighten their minds, kindle their hearts, and lead them to know the Father and the Son. It is among the most celebrated hymns of the entire Latin tradition.

Who wrote the Veni Creator Spiritus?

The hymn is traditionally attributed to Rabanus Maurus (c. 780–856), a Benedictine monk who became Archbishop of Mainz and one of the great teachers of the Carolingian age. It has been sung in the Church for well over a thousand years and was incorporated into the liturgy of Pentecost and into the rites of the Church's most solemn acts.

When is the Veni Creator Spiritus sung?

The Church sings it at Pentecost, but also whenever she invokes the Holy Spirit upon a new undertaking: at the ordination of priests and the consecration of bishops, at Confirmation, at the dedication of a church, at the opening of an ecumenical council or synod, and at the conclave that elects a Pope. A plenary indulgence is attached to its recitation on the first day of the year and at Pentecost.

What does 'Veni, Creator Spiritus' mean?

Veni, Creator Spiritus means 'Come, Creator Spirit.' The hymn addresses the Holy Spirit as Creator — for the Spirit who 'moved over the waters' at creation is the same Spirit who re-creates and sanctifies souls — and begs Him to come and dwell in the hearts He has made. It is a prayer of invocation, calling the Third Person of the Trinity to His own dwelling place within us.

Other Latin Catholic prayers

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