Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire

Author (attributed to): Rabanus Maurus

Rabanus Maurus (c. 776-856) or Hrabanus Magnentius Maurus, was born of noble parents at Mainz, and educated at Fulda and Tours under Alcuin, who is reputed to have given him the surname, Maurus, after the saint of that name. In 803, he became director of the school at the Benedictine Abbey at Fulda. He was ordained priest in 814, spending the following years in a pilgrimage to Palestine. In 822, he became Abbott at Fulda, retiring in 842. In 847, he became archbishop of Mainz. He died at Winkel on the Rhine, February 4, 856. This distinguished Carolingian poet-theologian wrote extensive biblical commentaries, the Encyclopaedic De Universo, De Institutione Clericorum, and other works which circulated widely during the Middle Ages. Som… Go to person page >

Translator: John Cosin

The following note is from Bird's "Songs of the Spirit," p. 171. "Cosin was a native of Norwich, and scholar of Caius College, Cambridge; Prebend of Durham, 1624; Rector of Branspeth, 1626; in 1660, Dean and then Bishop of Durham. His 'Collection of Private Devotions for the Hours of Prayer,' much offended the Puritans, who styled it 'a book of Cozening Devotions.' This work contains ten short hymns (three of them from the Latin), which are supposed to be his. --Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A., 1872.… Go to person page >

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• Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire