Monday 13 May 2024

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Today is Monday 13th May, in the 7th week of Eastertide.

Juliano Ravanello sings 'Veni Creator Spiritus': Come, Creator Spirit. As we walk towards Pentecost this week, perhaps this is something you can pray in yourself: Come, Creator Spirit.

Veni Creator Spiritus

Mentes tuorum visita

Imple superna gratia

Quae tu creasti pectora

Qui diceris Paraclitus

Donum Dei altissimi

Fons vivus ignis caritas

Et spiritalis unctio

Tu septiformis munere

Dextrae Dei tu digitus

Tu rite promissum Patris

Sermone ditans guttura

Accende lumen sensibus

Infunde amorem cordibus

Infirma nostri corporis

Virtute firmans perpeti

Hostem repellas longius

Pacemque dones protinus

Ductore sic te praevio

Vitemus omne noxium

Per te sciamus da Patrem

Noscamus atque Filium

Te utriusque Spiritum

Credamus omni tempore

Amen

Come, Holy Ghost, Creator, come

from thy bright heav'nly throne;

come, take possession of our souls,

and make them all thine own.

Thou who art called the Paraclete,

best gift of God above,

the living spring, the living fire,

sweet unction and true love.

Thou who art sevenfold in thy grace,

finger of God's right hand;

his promise, teaching little ones

to speak and understand.

O guide our minds with thy blest light,

with love our hearts inflame;

and with thy strength, which ne'er decays,

confirm our mortal frame.

Far from us drive our deadly foe;

true peace unto us bring;

and through all perils lead us safe

beneath thy sacred wing.

Through thee may we the Father know,

through thee th'eternal Son,

and thee the Spirit of them both,

thrice-blessed three in One.

Today’s reading is from the Acts of the Apostles.

Acts 19:1-8

"While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the inland regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. He said to them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?’ They replied, ‘No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.’ Then he said, ‘Into what then were you baptized?’ They answered, ‘Into John’s baptism.’ Paul said, ‘John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.’ On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied— altogether there were about twelve of them.

"He entered the synagogue and for three months spoke out boldly, and argued persuasively about the kingdom of God."

When you hear the words 'the Holy Spirit', what comes to mind?

Take a moment to think of a time when you felt close to God or were pleasantly surprised by what you think was Spirit-inspired. What was it like? How did that feeling stay with you afterwards?

As you listen to the passage again, notice what stays with you…

The Spirit in this passage is active, giving and changing. What help would you like from the Spirit? What would you like to say to God as this time of prayer comes to a close?

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.