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by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

Hail, Holy Light
Language: English 
Genesis 1:1-2 
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 
and the earth was without form, and void; 
and darkness was upon the face of the deep. 
And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 

 Paradise Lost, Book VII: 205-209 
Heaven opened wide 
Her ever-during gates, harmonious sound 
On golden hinges moving, to let forth 
The King of Glory, in his powerful Word 
And Spirit coming to create new worlds. 
—John Milton (1608-1674) 

 Genesis 1:3 
And God said, let there be light. 

Veni Sancte Spiritus 
Veni, Sancte Spiritus, 
et emitte caelitus 
Lucis tuae radium. 
Veni, dator munerum, 
Veni, lumen cordium. 

 O lux beatissima, 
Reple cordis intima 
Tuorum fidelium. 
—Twelfth Century chant text 

 Come, Holy Spirit, 
Send forth from heaven 
The ray of thy light. 
come, giver of gifts, 
Come, light of hearts. 

 O Light most blessed, 
Fill the inmost heart 
Of all thy faithful. 

 Paradise Lost, Book III: 1-6 
Hail holy light, ofspring of Heav'n first-born, 
Or of th' Eternal Coeternal beam 
May I express thee unblam'd? since God is light, 
And never but in unapproachèd light 
Dwelt from Eternitie, dwelt then in thee, 
Bright effluence of bright essence increate. 
—Milton

Text: Genesis 1:1-3: John Milton (1608-1674); Veni Sancte Spiritus

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

  • by Nancy Wertsch (b. 1948), "Hail, Holy Light", copyright © 2011 [ soprano and satb chorus ], Carus-Verlag
        Publisher: Carus-Verlag [external link]  [sung text checked 1 time]

Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2026-10-18
Line count: 40
Word count: 197

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