“Holy Spirit, God of light, Fill us with your radiance, bright; Gentle father of the poor, Make us, by your help, secure; Come, your boundless grace impart, Bring your love to ev’ry heart. Lord of consolation, come, Warm us when our hearts are numb; Great consoler, come and heal, To our souls your strength reveal; Cool, refreshing comfort pour, And our peace of mind restore.” Veni, Sancte Spiritus Office of Readings, Pentecost
As I think you realize, I am not in the habit of quoting at length in this space the words to songs or hymns. Today, however, as we are preparing to celebrate the great gift of Pentecost, this particular setting and translation in the Liturgy of the Hours seems too powerful to pass up!
The time through which we have come and through which we continue to pass echoes the human spirit by which this timeless hymn was written and later translated. Our circumstances prompt us to look to God with deeper and greater faith. God’s response to us prompts us to see our circumstances with clearer and a truly faith filled vision.
We who have been and are able to gather again in St. Peter’s Church, including on this Feast of Pentecost, are the Holy Spirit’s “down payment” on the richness of prayer and worship, of living and serving to come. We know more about ourselves and each other, and hopefully, about the goodness and mercy of God from all that we have experienced!