Come, Creator Spirit: Meditations on the Veni Creator [Paperback]

Raniero Cantalamessa (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 15, 2003

Written particularly for the Charismatic Renewal in the English-speaking world, Come, Creator Spirit is a helpful guide for a better understanding of the Holy Spirit. In this detailed commentary on the famous hymn Veni Creator, sung at the beginning of every new year, ecumenical council, and priestly ordination, Father Raniero Cantalamessa describes the Paraclete and gives praise to its glory. Progressing through the hymn line by line, he provides insights, reflections, hymnography of Christian traditions, and testimonies of the saints.

This book describes the ChurchÂ’s experience of the Spirit of today, as well as the past. The biblical and theological base of the hymn opens the reader to the perspectives and inspirations in this book. Its vision of the Holy Spirit in the history of salvation emerges as the reader progresses through the reading. In the celebration of the ecumenical character of Veni Creator, this book draws from Orthodox, Protestant, and Catholic traditions for all those who wish to seek a better understanding of the Holy Spirit.

Chapters are "Spirit, Come!" "Creator," "Fill with Heavenly Grace the Hearts that You Have Made," "You Whom We Name the Paraclete," "Most High Gift of God," "Living Water," "Fire," "Love," "Anointing for the Soul," "Sevenfold in Your Gifts," "Finger of GodÂ’s Right Hand," "The FatherÂ’s Solemn Promise," "Gifting Lips with the Word to Say," "Kindle Your Light in Our Minds," "Pour Love into Our Hearts," "Infirmity in This Body of Ours Overcoming with Strength Secure," "The Enemy Drive from Us Away," "Peace Then Give without Delay," "With You As Guide We Avoid All Cause of Harm," "Through You May We the Father Know," "Through You May We Know the Son As Well," and "And You, the Spirit of Them Both, May We Always Believe."

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Raniero Cantalamessa, O.F.M. Cap., is past professor of the history of Christian origins at the Catholic University of Milan and a member of the International Theological Commission. He is preacher to the papal household and author of The Mystery of Pentecost, Easter in the Early Church; The Eucharist: Our Sanctification; The Mystery of God's Word; The Holy Spirit in the Life of Jesus; Jesus Christ, The Holy One of God; Mary, Mirror of the Church; The Mystery of Christmas; and The Mystery of Easter published by The Liturgical Press.

Product Details

• Paperback: 382 pages
• Publisher: Liturgical Press (May 15, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0814628710
• ISBN-13: 978-0814628713
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #472,218 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extraordinary, very much more than academic, July 27, 2011

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Ed (New Mexico) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Come, Creator Spirit: Meditations on the Veni Creator (Paperback)

Fr. Cantalamessa writes with a gentle, engaging clarity about the Holy Spirit, profoundly opening my understanding of who this Third Person of the Holy Trinity is, does, and wants for us, and for me, specifically. From the first pages, this book swept past my guard and straight to my heart.

I was drawn to the book, in part, because the "Veni Creator Spiritus," which Pope Benedict XVI names one of Christianity's most beautiful hymns, is egregiously mistranslated in the current ecclesial form; the one sung in Church for Pentecost begins with, "Come Holy Spirit, Creator Blest," and is way off the actual Latin, which Cantalamessa, (and Fortesque!) accurately render as, "Come Creator Spirit."

Assuming the hymn's author, Rabanus Maurus, had a good reason for choosing the words he used to write this sung prayer, that he intended to pray what he actually said, I've wondered about the clerical reasons for our modern, inaccurate, and misleading version.

Fr. Cantalamessa, however, doesn't enter that debate, he just more accurately translates from the original Latin, and explains why and how that effects our understanding and connection to the Holy Spirit; that's the ground for his exegesis; what the words actually are, what that says to us, and does for us as we pray and live.

But this is no dry, academic work on translation. From this forthright beginning, he writes the most beautiful, yet still powerfully engaging and informative meditations on each line in the hymn, using Scripture, the teachings of the Catholic Church, and especially the writings of the Church Fathers, to open up the substance and meaning contained in this hymn to the Holy Spirit. While that sort of catechesis is not unusual at all, Fr. Cantalamessa takes it to a much higher than usual level, really engaging the heart, and the hope, we carry within us for, toward, and about our Creator.

Among the most powerful and helpful books I've ever read, well beyond "standard" theological texts on the Holy Spirit and the Trinity. Worlds beyond the usual modern, "popular" fare on "living in the Spirit."

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth reading and re-reading, March 22, 2011

By 

Clifford R. Wiesner "always sceptical" (sf east bay area) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Come, Creator Spirit: Meditations on the Veni Creator (Paperback)

Come, Creator Spirit: Meditations on the Veni Creator I have long thought that the Holy Spirit is given short shift within the Catholic church He is poorly understood by both the clergy,and especially, the laity. Fr. Raniero has brought him to life, and into our lives. The text is written so that I felt I was present at a lecture by the author. Some sections are so filled with wisdom that they require re-reading, however, the results are well worthwhile. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in meeting the Holy Spirit and inviting him to come into their lives in a more personal way.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book to touch our lives!, August 17, 2009

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Maria T. Moreira "citizen of the world" (Argentina) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Come, Creator Spirit: Meditations on the Veni Creator (Paperback)

I felt so touched by this book that I ordered another one to give it as a present! It lights a fire of love in our hearts!