Veni, Creator Spiritus!: Gustav Mahler's Hymn to the Holy Ghost

Gustav Mahler, the Austrian composer born in a Jewish family, converted to Catholicism out of professional reasons, was an idealist and a freethinker. His spiritual seek and becoming are reflected in his Symphonies.

The monumental work of his maturity period, Symphony No. 8 in E flat is dedicated to the Holy Ghost, The creator Spirit of the Universe. Written in 2 parts, the symphony known as the Symphony of a Thousand needs a huge orchestra, 8 soloists, 2 mixed choirs and a children choir. It is the first continuously choral and orchestral symphony ever composed. The symphony is a  massive statement of human aspirations and a cry for illumination, expressed in 2 ways:  religious and philosophical.

 The first part is a setting of the medieval Catholic Pentecost hymn “Veni Creator Spiritus”, while the second uses the  text of  the closing scene of J.W. von Goethe’s Faust drama (the scene of Faust’s redemption). The same Holy Ghost is described by Goethe as the Eternal Feminine , The Holy Virgin Mother, The Goddess. A very inspired juxtaposition of these two poems in Mahler's work.

http://www.britannica.com/biography/Gustav-Mahler

This work was performed on the 2nd of September 2015 in Bucharest by the Radio 2 Orchestras, and 2 Choirs, Philharmonic Choir, soloists Erika Sunnergardh, Cellia Costea, Aurelia Florian, Michaela Selinger, Liliana Ciuca, Stefan Vinke, Serban Vasile and Sorin Coliban and conductor was Cornelius Meister. Both in the the orchestras and choir were performing sahaja yogis and some other artists who got Self Realization.

You can see here the translation:

Veni, creator spiritus,                                     Come, creator Spirit,

mentes tuorum visita;                                       let your spirit enter us;

imple superna gratia,                                        fill with grace from above

quae tu creasti pectora.                                   those whom you have created.

Qui Paraclitus diceris,                                     You are known as the Comforter,

donum Dei altissimi,                                        a gift from God on high,

fons vivus, ignis, caritas,                                   living spring, fire, love,

et spiritalis unctio.                                            and unction of the spirit.

Infirma nostri corporis                                     Endow our weak bodies,

virtute firmans perpeti;                                    with eternal strength;

accende lumen sensibus,                                 inflame our senses with light,

infunde amorem cordibus.                               pour love into our hearts.

Hostem repellas longius,                                 Drive the enemy far away,

pacemque dones protinus;                              grant us lasting peace;

ductore sic te praevio                                     so that, under your guidance,

vitemus omne pessimum.                                we might avoid all evil.

Tu septiformis munere,                                  You, with sevenfold gifts,

dexterae paternae digitus;                              the finger of God's right hand;

[tu rite promissum Patris,                               [you, true promise of the Father,

sermone ditans guttura.]                                 have endowed our tongues with speech]

Per te sciamus da Patrem,                            through you may we know the Father

noscamus [atque] Filium,                              [and also] the Son,

[te utriusque] spiritum                                   [and you, emanating from both], O Spirit

credamus omni tempore.                              let us believe forever.

Da gaudiorum praemia,                                Give us joy,

da gratiarum munera;                                    grant us your grace;

dissolve litis vincula,                                      dissolve the chains that bind us

adstringe pacis foedera.                                and join us in bonds of peace.

Gloria Patri Domino,                                   Glory be to God the Father,

Deo sit gloria et Filio                                   and glory also to his Son

natoque, qui a mortuis                                 begotten, and from the dead

surrexit, ac Paraclito                                   arisen, and also our Comforter

in saeculorum saecula.                                 forever and ever.

Part II - Closing scene from Faust, Act II

Mountain gorges, forest, cliff, solitude.  Holy Anchorites are sheltering in rocky clefts.

 HOLY ANCHORITES (choir and echo)

Waldung, sie schwankt heran,                      Forests sway,

Felsen, sie lasten dran,                                 rocks bear down heavily,

Wurzeln, sie klammern an,                            roots grip.

Stamm dicht an Stamm hinan.                       tree-trunk crowds close to tree-trunk,

Woge nach Woge spritzt,                             wave breaks upon wave, foaming,

Höhle, die tiefste, schützt.                             the deepest cave provides shelter.

Löwen, sie schleichen stumm,                       Lions, who walk quietly about

freundlich um uns herum,                              are friendly towards us,

ehren geweihten Ort,                                    honoring the sacred place,

heiligen Liebeshort.                                       holy sanctuary of love.

 PATER ECSTATICUS (soaring up and down)

Ewiger Wonnebrand                                     Eternal fire of bliss,

glühendes Liebeband,                                   glowing bonds of love,

siedender Schmerz der Brust,                       seething pain in the breast,

schäumende Gotteslust!                                raging desire for God!

Pfeile, durchdringet mich,                             Arrows, pierce me;

Lanzen, bezwinget mich,                               lances, subdue me;

Keulen, zerschmettert mich,                          clubs, batter me;

Blitze, durchwettert mich!                             lightning, pierce me through!

Daß ja das Nichtige                                     So that vain things

alles verflüchtige,                                         might all vanish,

glänze der Dauerstern,                                 that the eternal star may shine forth,

ewiger Liebe Kern!                                     eternal nucleus of love!

 PATER PROFUNDUS (from the nether region)

Wie Felsenabgrund mir zu Füßen                       As the rocky abyss at my feet

auf tiefem Abgrund lastend ruht,                         rests upon a deeper abyss,

wie tausend Bäche strahlend fließen                   as a thousand sparkling streams flow,

zum grausen Sturz des Schaums der Flut            to the awful cataract of foaming flood,

wie strack, mit eig'nem kräft'gen Triebe,             as, straight upwards by its own power

der Stamm sich in die Lüfte trägt;                       the tree-trunk thrusts itself into the air;

so ist es die allmächt'ge Liebe,                           so it is almighty love

die alies bildet, alles hegt.                                  that forms and cherishes all.

Ist um mich her ein wildes Brausen,                   When wild tumult roars around me,

als wogte Wald und Felsengrund,                      as the forest and rocks quiver,

und doch stürzt, liebevoll im Sausen,                 and yet, loving in its bluster,

die Wasserfülle sich zum Schlund,                     the mass of water, hurls itself into the gorge

berufen gleich das Tal zu wässern:                     eventually summoned to water the valley:

der Blitz, der flammend niederschlug,                 the lightning, flaming downward,

die Atmosphäre zu verbessern,                         to purify the atmosphere,

die Gift und Dunst im Busen trug,                      which carries in its bosom poison and fumes;

sind Liebesboten, sie verkünden,                       there are the harbingers of love, proclaiming

was ewig schaffend uns umwallt.                       that which forever seethes, creating, around us.

Mein Inn'res mög' es auch entzünden,               Might it kindle my innermost being,

wo sich der Geist, verworren, kalt,                   where my soul, confused and cold,

verquält in stumpfer Sinne Schranken,              suffers in a dull stupor,

scharf angeschloss'nem Kettenschmerz.            locked fast in chains of pain.

O Gott! beschwichtige die Gedanken,             Oh God!  Soothe my thoughts

erleuchte mein bedürftig Herz!                          lighten my needy heart!

 CHORUS OF ANGELS (soaring in the upper atmosphere, bearing Faust's immortal essence)

Gerettet ist das edle Glied                              Saved is the immortal essence

der Geisterwelt vom Bösen:                           of the spirit world from evil:

wer immer strebend sich bemüht,                   whoever struggles and strives,

den können wir erlösen;                                 we can rescue;

und hat an ihm die Liebe gar                          and if on him love coming

von oben teilgenommen,                                 from on high has taken its part,

begegnet ihm die sel'ge Schar                         the Heavenly Host will greet him,

mit herzlichem Willkommen.                           with a heartfelt welcome.

 CHOIR OF BLESSED BOYS (circling the highest peaks)

Hände verschlinget euch                                Let's join hands

freudig zum Ringverein,                                  joyfully, together in a ring

regt euch und singe                                        let's rise up and sing

heil'ge Gefühle drein!                                     with holy emotion!

Göttlich belehret,                                           Instructed by God,

dürft ihr vertrauen;                                         you may rest assured;

den ihr verehret,                                            that he, whom you worship,

werdet ihr schauen.                                       you will behold.

 YOUNGER ANGELS

Jene Rosen, aus den Händen                          Those roses, from the hands

liebend-heiliger Büßerinnen,                            of love-sanctified women penitents

halten uns den Sieg gewinnen                          help us to achieve victory

und das hohe Werk vollenden,                        and fulfill the noble work

diesen Seelenschatz erbeuten.                         of capturing the prize of this soul.

Böse wichen, als wir streuten,                         Evil fled as we scattered them,

teufel flohen, als wir trafen.                             demons retreated as we advanced.

Statt gewohnter Höllenstrafen                         Instead of the usual punishments of Hell,

fühlten Liebesqual die Geister,                        spirits felt the pangs of love.

Selbst der alte Satans-Meister                        Even Satan, the old master himself,

war von spitzer Pein durchdrungen.                 was pieced by sharp pain.

Jauchzet auf! Es ist gelungen.                          Rejoice!  It is fulfilled.

 MORE PERFECT ANGELS

Uns bieibt ein Erdenrest                             An earthly residue remains with us,

zu tragen peinlich,                                      painful to bear,

und wär' er von Asbest                              and though it were made of asbestos,

er ist nicht reinlich.                                     it is not clean.

Wenn starke Geisteskraft                          When the strong powers of the spirit

die Elemente an sich herangerafft,               bind the elements to itself,

kein Engel trennte                                      no angel could divide

geeinte Zwienatur                                       the united double nature

der innigen beiden;                                     of the firmly united pair:

die ewige Liebe nur                                    only eternal love

vermag's zu scheiden.                                  is capable of dividing them.

 YOUNGER ANGELS

Ich spür' soeben,                                    I see at this moment,

nebelnd um Felsenhöh',                           misty around the rocky heights,

ein Geisterleben.                                     a gathering of spirits.

Regend sich in der Näh'                          Moving nearby, I see

seliger Knaben,                                      holy children,

seh' ich bewegte Schar                           a multitude

los von der Erde Druck,                         freed of earthly burdens,

im Kreis gesellt,                                      joined in a circle,

die sich erlaben                                      delighting themselves

am neuen Lenz und Schmuck                 in the new springtime and in the embellishment

Der obern Welt.                                    of the world above.

 DOCTOR MARIANUS (in the highest, purest cell of all)

Hier ist die Aussicht frei,                            Here the view is unobstructed,

der Geist erhoben.                                     the spirit uplifted.

 YOUNGER ANGELS

Sei er zum Anbeginn,                                Let him start out with them,

steigendem Vollgewinn                             until, ever rising, he attains

diesen gesellt!                                           the highest gain!

  CHOIR OF BLESSED BOYS

Freudig empfangen wir                     Joyfully do we receive

diesen im Puppenstand;                    this one in chrysalis;

also erlangen wir                              thus do we receive

englisches Unterpfand.                     an angelic pledge.

Löset die Flocken los,                     Take away the wrappings

die ihn umgeben!                              that surround him!

Schon ist er schön und groß             Already he is beautiful and tall

von heiligem Leben.                          through the holy life.

 DOCTOR MARIANUS

Dort ziehen Frauen vorbei,                  Women pass by there,

schwebend nach oben,                        soaring towards the heights,

die Herrliche mitterin                           the Glorious One in their midst

im Sternenkranze,                                crowned with stars,

die Himmelskönignen,                          the Queen of Heaven.

Ich seh's am Glanze,                            I perceive by her splendor

höchste Herrscherin der Welt!              the most exalted mistress of the world!

Lasse mich im blauen,                          Let me, in the blue

ausgespannten Himmelszelt                 outspread vault of Heaven

dein Geheimnis schauen!                      behold your mystery!

Bill'ge, was des Mannes Brust              Accept that, which in the breast of man

ernst und zart beweget                         moves earnestly and tenderly,

und mit heil'ger Liebeslust                    and which he, with holy joy,

dir entgegen träget!                             offers up to you!

Unbezwinglich unser Mut,                   Our courage is in undaunted,

wenn du hehr gebietest;                       when you sublimely command;

plötzlich mildert sich die Glut,              passions suddenly subside,

wenn du uns befriedest.                       when you pacify us.

 DOCTOR MARIANUS AND CHORUS

Jungfrau, rein im schönsten Sinn,          Virgin, pure in the loveliest sense,

Mutter, Ehren würdig,                          mother, worthy of honor,

uns erwählte Königin,                          our chosen Queen,

Göttern ebenbürtig.                              peer of gods.

 CHORUS

Dir, der Unberührbaren,                   It is not denied

ist es nicht benommen,                      to you, O stainless one,

daß die leicht Verführbaren               that those who are easily led astray

traulich zu dir kommen.                     might confidently approach

In die Schwachheit hingerafft,            Deeply entangles in weakness,

sind sie schwer zu retten;                   they are difficult to save;

wer zerreißt aus eig'ner Kraft            who, though his own power alone

der Gelüste Ketten?                          can tear away the chains of desire?

Wie entgleitet schnell der Fuß            How quickly the foot slips

schiefem, glattem Boden!                  on sloping, smooth ground!

 (The Mater Gloriosa appears, hovering.)

 PENITENT WOMEN AND UNA POENTENTIUM

Du schwebst zu Höhen                      You soar up to the heights

der ewigen Reiche,                            of the eternal kingdom,

vernimmt das Flehen,                         hear our supplication,

du Gnadenreiche!                              O Fount of Mercy!

Du Ohnegleiche!                                O Peerless One!

 MAGNA PECCATRIX (Luke 7)

Bei der Liebe, die den Füßen              By the love that bathed the feet

deines gottverklärten Sohnes              of your God-announced Son

Tränen ließ zum Balsam fließen,           with tears that flowed like balsam,

trotz des Pharisäer-Hohnes:                 despite the scorn of the Pharisees:

beim Gefäße, das so reichlich              by the vessel which so richly

tropfte Wohlgeruch hernieder:             dropped sweet fragrance:

bei den Locken, die so weichlich          by the hair that so softly

rrockneten die heil'gen Glieder.           dried his holy limbs.

 MULIER SAMARITANA (John 4)

Bei dem Bronn, zu dem schon weiland        By the well, to which already long ago.

Abram ließ die Herde führen:                      Abraham led his flocks:

bei dem Eimer, der dem Heiland                 by the jar, which was raised

kühl die Lippe durft' berühren:                    to cool the Savior's lips:

bei der reinen, reichen Quelle,                    by the pure, rich spring.

die nun dorther sich ergießet,                      which welled up ever afterwards

überflüssig, ewig helle,                               overflowing, ever pure, flowing

rings durch alle Welten fließet.                    around and through the whole world

 MARIA AEGYPTIACA (Acta Sanctorum)

Bei dem hochgeweihten Orte,                By that most holy place,

wo den Herrn man niederließ:                 where they laid our Lord:

bei dem Arm, der von der Pforte,           by the arms, that thrust me back

Warnend mich zurücke stieß,                  in warning from the entrance:

bei der vierzigjähr'gen Buße,                   by the forty-year penance

der ich treu in Wüsten blieb:                    I faithfully endured in the desert:

bei dem sel'gen Scheidegruße,                 by the sacred farewell,

den im Sand ich niederschrieb.                I wrote in the sand.

 MAGNA PECCATRIX, MULIER SAMARITANA, MARIA AEGYPTIACA

Die du großen Sünderinnen                  You, who does not deny you presence

deine Nähe nicht verweigerst,                to women who have sinned greatly,

und ein büßendes Gewinnen                  and raise them up, through their

in die Ewigkeiten steigerst:                     penitence, to eternity:

gönn' auch dieser guten Seele,               grant also to this good soul,

die sich einmal nur vergessen,                who forgot herself just once,

die nicht ahnte, daß sie fehle                  not suspecting that she erred,

dein Verzeihen angemessen!                 your just pardon!

 UNA POENITENTIUM (once known as Gretchen, clinging to the Virgin)

Neige, neige,                                        Incline, incline,

du Ohnegleiche,                                   O Peerless One,

du Strahlenreiche,                                O Shining One,

dein Antlitz gnadig meinem Glück!         your countenance graciously to my joy!

Der früh Geliebte,                                 The one I once loved,

nicht mehr Getrübte,                             troubled no more ,

er kommt zurück.                                  has come back to me.

 CHOIR OF BLESSED BOYS (circling near)

Er überwächst uns schon                    He surpasses us already

an mächt'gen Gliedern,                       on powerful limbs,

wird treuer Pflege Lohn                      he will richly repay

Reichlich erwidern.                             the reward of faithful care.

Wir wurden früh entfernt                    We were taken prematurely

von Lebechören;                                from the choir of the living:

doch dieser hat gelernt,                      but this man has learned,

er wird uns lehren.                             and he will teach us

  UNA POENITENTIUM

Vom edlen Geisterchor umgeben,             Surround by the noble choir of spirits, the

wird sich der Neue kaum gewahr,             new arrival is scarcely conscious,

er ahnet kaum das frische Leben,              barely aware of his new existence,

So gleicht er schon der heil'gen Schar        he already resembles the Heavenly Host.

Sieh, wie er jedem Erdenbande                 See how he throws off all the earthly bonds

der alten Hülle sich entrafft,                       of his former shell,

und aus ätherischem Gewande and,           in ethereal garments,

hervortritt erste Jugendkraft!                     steps out in the flush of youth!

Vergönne mir, ihn zu belehren,                   Allow me to be his guide,

noch blendet ihn der neue Tag!                  for the new day still dazzles him!

 MATER GLORIOSA AND CHORUS

Komm!                                                  Come!

Hebe dich zu höhern Sphären!                Raise yourself to the highest spheres!

Wenn er dich ahnet, folgt er nach.          When he perceives you, he will follow.

 CHORUS

Komm!  Komm!                               Come! Come!

 DOCTOR MARIANUS AND CHORUS

Blicket aut zum Retterblick,                 Look up to the redeeming gaze,

alle reuig Zarten,                                 all people contrite and tender,

euch zu sel'gem Glück                         that you might be translated

dankend umzuarten!                            in blessed fortune!

Werde jeder bess're Sinn                    May every better impulse

dir zum Dienst erbötig;                        be readily at your service:

Jungfrau, Mutter, Königin,                   Virgin, Mother, Queen,

Göttin, bleibe gnädig!                          Goddess,  remain ever gracious!

 CHORUS MYSTICUS:

Alles Vergängliche                          All that is ephemeral

ist nur ein Gleichnis;                         is but a symbol;

das Unzulängliche,                           the incomplete

hier wird's Ereignis;                          is here fulfilled;

das Unbeschreibliche,                      the indescribable

hier ist's getan;                                 is here accomplished;

das Ewig-Weibliche                         the Eternal Feminine

zieht uns hinan.                                draws us ever upwards.

https://teddyli.wordpress.com/2006/03/25/mahler-symphony-no-8-text-and-translation/