Veni, Creator Spiritus

Our hymn after the sermon this coming Sunday (Pentecost) combines both Gregorian Chant and a German chorale. The Gregorian hymn, Veni Creator Spiritus ("Creator Spirit, Heavenly dove") is No. 577 in ELW. It is believed to have been written by Rhabanus Maurus, a great German theologian and scholar, in the 9th century.

The hymn came to be used during Vespers and Terce during the week of Pentecost in the Roman Catholic Church. It is also has been a mainstay at special services such as ordinations, as well as the entrance of Cardinals to the Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope, the coronation of kings and other solemn events. The hymn is also widely used in the Anglican Church, and appears for example in the Ordering of Priests and in the Consecration of Bishops in the Book of Common Prayer, 1662.

The chorale version of the same tune is found at ELW 578. Martin Luther had prepared a German translation of the Latin hymn, published in Erfurt in 1524. This chorale version by Joseph Klug appeared with Luther's translation in a hymnal from 1533. The early reformers often took chant melodies, made them rhythmic rather than free-flowing, and paired them with a German text. This was done so that people, not just the choir, would be able to sing the great truths of the faith.

This tradition of the German Chorale is one of Lutheranism's great contributions to the worship of the church at large. We will sing the hymn in alternation Sunday, with the choir singing the chant version and the congregation singing the chorale. By doing so we will be using two great traditions of the church: Gregorian chant and the German chorale, and we will be joining with the church across both time and space in singing this great hymn of Pentecost. These wonderful words are great to reflect on during the week leading up to Pentecost, and really, anytime at all.

Creator Spirit, Heavenly Dove

1 Creator Spirit, heav'nly dove,
descend upon us from above;
with graces manifold restore
your creatures as they were before.

2 To you, the Comforter, we cry;
to you, the gift of God most high,
true fount of life, the fire of love,
the soul's anointing from above.

3 In you, with graces sevenfold,
we God's almighty hand behold;
while you with tongues of fire proclaim
to all the world God's holy name.

4 Your light to ev'ry sense impart,
and shed your love in ev'ry heart;
your own unfailing might supply
to strengthen our infirmity.

5 Keep far from us our cruel foe,
and peace from your own hand bestow;
upheld by you, our strength and guide,
no evil can our steps betide.

6 Teach us to know the Father, Son,
and you, of both, to be but one;
that through the ages all along
your praise may be our endless song.

7 Praise to your eternal merit,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Text: Rhabanus Maurus, 776-856; tr. composite