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 art known;
thou, finger of God's hand, we own;
thou, promise of the Father, thou
who dost the tongue with power endow.
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 true 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.
Veni Creator Spiritus
Also known as Come, Holy Spirit, Creator Blest ยท Come, Creator Spirit
About this prayer
Veni Creator Spiritus ("Come, Creator Spirit") is a Latin hymn to the Holy Spirit, attributed to Rabanus Maurus (c. 780-856 AD), the Frankish Benedictine monk and theologian known as the "teacher of Germany." It first appears in manuscripts from the 9th century AD. The hymn asks the Holy Spirit to come and fill the hearts of the faithful, using a series of biblical titles for the Spirit: the Comforter, the gift of the most high, the fire of love, the anointing, the finger of God's right hand. It is one of the most important hymns in the Latin liturgical tradition and has been translated into most European languages. Its most familiar English translation, "Come, Holy Ghost, Creator Blest," has been in use since at least the 10th century AD.
When it's said
Veni Creator Spiritus is the appointed hymn for the liturgical celebration of Pentecost in the Catholic and Anglican traditions. In the Catholic Church it is also sung at ordinations, the consecration of bishops, the opening of church councils, and on other solemn occasions involving the invocation of the Holy Spirit. It is sung or said at the beginning of the Liturgy of the Hours each day during the Pentecost season. Pope John Paul II and subsequent popes have begun conclaves with its recitation.
Notes on the text
The original Latin text consists of seven stanzas. English translations vary significantly; the version above is a standard English rendering of the full hymn in common liturgical use. The most widely known shorter form reduces the hymn to three or four stanzas. The attribution to Rabanus Maurus is traditional but not certain; some scholars have proposed other authors.
Attributed to Rabanus Maurus, c. 9th century AD. English translation in common liturgical use. Public domain.
Last reviewed: May 2026 against primary source.