Come down, O Love Divine

Come down, O love divine!
Seek out this soul of mine
and visit it, with your own ardour glowing;
O Comforter, draw near,
within my heart appear,
and kindle it, your holy flame bestowing.

2. O let it freely burn
till earthly passions turn
to dust and ashes in its heat consuming;
and let your glorious light
shine ever on my sight,
and make my pathway clear, by your illuming.

3. Let holy charity
my outward vesture be,
and lowliness become my inner clothing;
true lowliness of heart
which takes the humbler part
and for its own shortcomings weeps with loathing.

4. And so the yearning strong
with which the soul will long
shall far surpass the power of human telling;
for none can guess its grace
till they become the place
in which the Holy Spirit makes his dwelling.