O Christ, to Thee be praise,
To Father, and to Holy Ghost,
Be glory given always.
Whitsuntide
VENI, CREATOR SPIRITUS,
MENTES TUORUM VISITA
Of the authorship of this grand hymn nothing unquestioned is known. It has been ascribed to Ambrose, Gregory, Rhabanus Maurus (died 856), and Charlemagne. The most widely prevalent opinion ascribes it to the last-named person, but in the judgment of Dr. Julian’s assistant-editor “the hymn is clearly not the work of St. Ambrose nor of Charles the Great. Nor is there sufficient evidence to allow us to ascribe it either to Gregory the Great, to Rhabanus Maurus, or to any of the ecclesiastics connected with the court of Charles the Fat.” The hymn has not yet been found in any MS. earlier than the latter part of the tenth century.
I
Come, Thou Creator Spirit blest,
And with Thy grace our minds pervade;
May Thy sweet presence ever dwell