This week’s Songs for Saints (SFS) production explores a nearly 600 year old hymn written by the medieval poet Bianco da Siena about arguably the most important day in human history; the day of Pentecost.
On Pentecost we celebrate an unraveling of the curse of Babel, tongue’s in Christ are now united in love and truth instead of divided and confused. On this day we celebrate that when the Spirit comes, people are changed, lives are renewed, and the Gospel marches on in victory.
The hymn is old. The melody is new. The truth is timeless.
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts 2:1-4
The text
Come down, O Love divine, Seek Thou this soul of mine,
And visit it with thine own ardour glowing;
O Comforter, draw near, within my heart appear,
and kindle it, Thy holy flame bestowing.
O let it freely burn, till worldly passions turn
To dust and ashes in its heat consuming:
And let Thy glorious light, Shine ever on my sight,
And clothe me round, the while my path illuming.
Let holy charity mine outward vesture be,
And lowliness become mine inner clothing,
True lowliness of heart, which takes the humbler part,
And o'er its own shortcomings weeps with loathing.
And so the yearning strong, with which the soul will long,
Shall far outpass the power of human telling;
No soul can guess the grace, Till he become the place
Wherein the Holy Spirit makes His dwelling.
Where to find this SFS
Listen on Qobuz or Spotify below.
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Come Down, O Love Divine