On May 28 this year, most Christians throughout the world will celebrate the feast of Pentecost, praising God for the gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church.
A beautiful liturgical prayer
One of the Church’s most beautiful liturgical prayers is the Pentecost Sequence (Veni, Sancte Spiritus), a Latin poem attributed to Stephen Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury, an older contemporary of St. Francis, who died in 1228.
After an invitation to come from heaven, the Holy Spirit is described as “the Father of the poor! Come, source of all our store! Come within our bosoms shine. You of comforters the best; You, the soul’s most welcome guest; Sweet refreshment here below.”
Perhaps no other prayer equals this entire text as an expression of God’s wildly generous providence for and compassion on all creation, especially human beings.
“Heal our wounds, our strength renew; On our dryness pour your dew;