Many of our prayers are addressed either to our heavenly Father, or to our Lord Jesus Christ. But few prayers are addressed to the Holy Spirit. This is not to say that the Holy Spirit is ignored by us, but that the work of the Holy Spirit is primarily to point us to God the Father and God the Son, and thus the Holy Spirit plays a significant yet hidden role in our lives. But at the feasts of Pentecost and Trinity we sing some great hymns to the Holy Spirit, one of the greatest of which is the old Latin hymn (Veni Creator Spiritus) Come, Holy Ghost, Creator Blest.

This 9th century hymn, written by monastery abbot and later archbishop Rabanus Maurus, has long been considered one of the greatest Latin hymns in the church. Among Lutherans we may think poorly of monasteries, and they certainly did have problems, however for a long time in history they were largely places of theological study for pastors like our seminaries today. This hymn, therefore, clearly and concisely teaches the work of the Holy Spirit among us.

Jesus sent the Holy Ghost into our hearts, to be our Counselor through the word of God. Without Him as our Counselor and Light we could never properly believe what He teaches. But instead, He teaches us to know God aright, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Because He has enlightened our dark hearts, He has also driven away our foe the devil. So, through His Word, He is the fount of life, and sets our hearts on fire with love for Him, so that we with fiery tongues proclaim the name of Christ.

Dear Christians, through Holy Baptism God the Holy Spirit has entered into your hearts so that you may believe the Gospel. What an incredible truth! God lives in you! Though all this world and hell itself may rage against the Gospel, we are not alone, but the Spirit dwells within us and emboldens us for the fight. When you find yourself in such a situation where you must confess your faith, be unafraid and boldly proclaim the Word of God, knowing that the Spirit works through you. Whether it’s your child, neighbor, or friend asking you a question, or a relative arguing with you, don’t be intimidated since you have God with you. Be at peace, for the Lord shall preserve you since He lives within you.

1 Come, Holy Ghost, Creator blest,
And make our hearts Your place of rest;
Come with Your grace and heav’nly aid,
And fill the hearts which You have made.

2 To You, the Counselor, we cry,
To You, the gift of God Most High;
The 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 His holy name.

4 Your light to ev’ry thought impart,
And shed Your love in ev’ry heart;
The weakness of our mortal state
With deathless might invigorate.

5 Drive far away our wily foe,
And Your abiding peace bestow;
With You as our protecting guide,
No evil can with us abide.

6 Teach us to know the Father, Son,
And You, from both, as Three in One
That we Your name may ever bless
And in our lives the truth confess.

7 Praise we the Father and the Son
And Holy Spirit, with them One,
And may the Son on us bestow
The gifts that from the Spirit flow!