Veni Creator Spiritus

A Western depiction of the Pentecost, painted by Jean II Restout, 1732.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentecost

                           

The best way to begin a study on Ruach HaKodesh, my beloved Holy Spirit will be to invoke Him through the most powerful invocation "Veni Creator Spiritus." Wikipedia says 

Veni Creator Spiritus ("Come Creator Spirit") is a hymn believed to have been written by Rabanus Maurus in the 9th century. When the original Latin text is used, it is normally sung inGregorian Chant. As an invocation of the Holy Spirit, in the practice of the Roman Catholic Church it is sung during the liturgical celebration of the feast of Pentecost (at both Terce andVespers). It is also sung at occasions such as the entrance of Cardinals to the Sistine Chapel, when electing a new pope, as well as at the consecration of bishops, the ordination of priests, when celebrating the sacrament of Confirmation, the dedication of churches, the celebration of synods or councils, the coronation of kings, the profession of members of religious institutes and other similar solemn events.

I have tried to learn it by heart so many times in the past. But in vain. So here I am going to learn it, imbibe the meaning as much as my Holy Spirit will allow me to grasp, and slow and steady I'm going to win the race! 
Here is the first stanza:

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.

Translation by John Dryden

Creator Spirit, by whose aid
The world's foundations first were laid,
Come, visit ev'ry pious mind;
Come, pour thy joys on human kind;
From sin, and sorrow set us free;
And make thy temples worthy Thee.

Oh, what a divine surprise !! Pope John Paul II has already said that it is much worthwhile to meditate Veni Creator Spiritus, stanza by stanza. Let me quote:

5. Veni, Sancte Spiritus!
The magnificent sequence, which contains a rich theology of the Holy Spirit, would also be worthy of meditation, stanza by stanza. Here we will reflect only on the first word: Veni, come! It recalls the waiting of the Apostles after Christ's Ascension into heaven.
In the Acts of the Apostles, Luke presents them to us gathered in the Upper Room in prayer with the Mother of Jesus (cf. Acts 1: 14). What better words than these could express their prayer: "Veni, Sancte Spiritus" the invocation, that is, of the one who moved over the face of the waters at the beginning of the world (cf. Gn 1: 2), whom Jesus had promised them as the Paraclete?


Church continues to pray: "Come, Holy Spirit'
The hearts of Mary and the Apostles at those moments were longing for his coming, alternating between ardent faith and the confession of human inadequacy. The Church's piety has interpreted and passed on this sentiment in the hymn "Veni, Sancte Spiritus". The Apostles know that the work Christ has entrusted to them is arduous, but decisive for the history of humanity's salvation. Will they be able to complete it? The Lord reassures their hearts. At every step of the mission that will lead them to proclaim and witness to the Gospel to the furthest corners of the globe, they will be able to count on the Spirit promised by Christ. The Apostles, recalling Christ's promise on the days between the Ascension and Pentecost, will focus their every thought and sentiment on that veni come!
6. Veni, Sancte Spiritus! Thus beginning her invocation to the Holy Spirit, the Church makes her own the substance of the Apostles' prayer as they gathered with Mary in the Upper Room; indeed, she extends it in history and makes it ever timely.
Veni, Sancte Spiritus! Thus she says over and over in every corner of the earth, her fervour unchanged, firmly aware that she must remain in the Upper Room, always awaiting the Spirit. At the same time, she knows that she must leave the Upper Room and travel the world's roads, with the ever new task of bearing witness to the mystery of the Spirit
Veni, Sancte Spiritus! So we pray with Mary, sanctuary of the Holy Spirit, a most precious dwelling-place of Christ among us, so that she may help us to be living temples of the Spirit and tireless witnesses of the Gospel.
Veni, Sancte Spiritus! Veni, Sancte Spiritus! Veni, Sancte Spiritus! Amen!
(©L'Osservatore Romano - 3 June 1998)

http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=377