Welcome New Year of the Lord: 2019!

 

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow.
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.

 Lord Alfred Tennyson

    

"O my God, fill my soul with holy joy, courage and strength

to serve You. Enkindle Your love in me and then walk with me

along the next stretch of road before me.  I do not see very far ahead,

but when I have arrived where the horizon now closes down,

a new prospect will open before me, and I shall meet it with peace."

 St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross

 Veni, Creator Spiritus  

Come, Holy Spirit, Creator

This hymn was probably written by Rabanus Maurus (856), Archbishop of Mainz.  In addition to its place in the Pentecost liturgy, the Veni Creator has also been assigned as the official opening prayer for Church councils and synods. It is recited and sung by the faithful all over the world at the start of important undertakings, such as the beginning of a school year, at conventions, missions, retreats, and on many similar occasions. A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who recite it. A plenary indulgence is granted if it is recited or sung on January 1st or on the feast of Pentecost.

Come, Holy Spirit, Creator blest,
and in our souls take up Thy rest;
come with Thy grace and heavenly aid
to fill the hearts which Thou hast made.

O comforter, to Thee we cry,
O heavenly gift of God Most High,
O fount of life and fire of love,
and sweet anointing from above.

Thou in Thy sevenfold gifts are known;
Thou, finger of God's hand we own;
Thou, promise of the Father, Thou
Who dost the tongue with power imbue.

Kindle our sense from above,
and make our hearts o'erflow with love;
with patience firm and virtue high
the weakness of our flesh supply.

Far from us drive the foe we dread,
and grant us Thy peace instead;
so shall we not, with Thee for guide,
turn from the path of life aside.

Oh, may Thy grace on us bestow
the Father and the Son to know;
and Thee, through endless times confessed,
of both the eternal Spirit blest.

Now to the Father and the Son,
Who rose from death, be glory given,
with Thou, O Holy Comforter,
henceforth by all in earth and heaven.   Amen.

Prayer Source: Handbook of Christian Feasts and Customs

by Francis X. Weiser, S.J., Harcourt, Brace and Co, New York, 1958