Since the 1200's our Catholic Church has sung the sacred hymn, called the Sequence, to the Holy Spirit at Mass on Pentecost. It begins with the Latin words, Veni Sancte Spiritus, meaning "Come Holy Spirit", and continues:

You, of comforters the best;
You, the soul's most welcome guest;
Sweet refreshment here below;

In our labor, rest most sweet;
Grateful coolness in the heat;
Solace in the midst of woe.

The tradition holds that this was written by the Archbishop of Canterbury in England, who could never imagine how "grateful coolness in the heat" would appeal to Catholics in Arizona singing while it's 100 degrees outside!

We received the Holy Spirit at our Baptism and were sealed with His gifts at Confirmation. This hymn reminds us that we need to keep coming back to Him every day for the consolation, refreshment, and comfort the Holy Spirit gives us. Life is heavy and can really go off the tracks sometimes but God doesn't wait for us to find Him and get everything figured out. Instead, He comes to us and lives in us while were still in the mess. We don't pray "help me find you Holy Spirit!" but we do pray "come Holy Spirit!" The same God who created the universe and rose from the dead can certainly find us wherever we have wandered to and give us whatever particular consolation we need.

Although we may not always feel that "rest most sweet" while we're going through our tough times, that does not mean the Holy Spirit isn't there. Don't give up! Keep demanding that He come to you and give you everything you need and more. St. Paul wrote that "the Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because it intercedes for the holy ones according to God's will."(Romans 8:26-27)

Spend few minutes today re-reading the words of the Veni Sancte Spiritus sequenceand pray them together as family this week. Keep asking the Holy Spirit for everything you need.

I am praying for you all - please pray for me too.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. David Halm, C.S.C.

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