Holy Spirit, hear us;
Help us while we sing;
Breath into the music
Of the praise we bring.

Holy Spirit, prompt us
When we kneel to pray;
Nearer come, and teach us
What we ought to say.

Holy Spirit, shine thou
On the book we read;
Gild its holy pages
With the light we need.

Holy Spirit, give us
Each a lowly mind;
Make us more like Jesus,
Gentle, pure, and kind.

Holy Spirit, help us
Daily by thy might,
What is wrong to conquer,
And to choose the right.


W. H. Parker (1845-1929)