Ruah: Breath of God

Ruah, written in Hebrew above, is the Hebrew word translated with three different words: "wind" or "breath" or "spirit".  I use it here, a name for God the Holy Spirit, the Holy Ruah.

Sung here by a choir in Cape Town, South Africa:

https://youtu.be/rlyo3neR6xg


"Breath on Me, Breath of God"

Breathe on me, breath of God,
Fill me with life anew,
That I may love what Thou dost love,
And do what Thou wouldst do.

Breathe on me, breath of God,
Until my heart is pure,
Until with Thee I will one will,
To do and to endure.

Breathe on me, breath of God,
Blend all my soul with Thine,
Until this earthly part of me
Glows with Thy fire divine.

Breathe on me, breath of God,
So shall I never die,
But live with Thee the perfect life
Of Thine eternity.

Words: Ed­win Hatch, 1878; first ap­peared in a pri­vate print­ing of Be­tween Doubt and Pray­er.
Music: Trent­ham, Ro­bert Jack­son, in Fifty Sac­red Leaf­lets, 1888


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Sunday, May 15 is Pentecost Sunday, the day the church celebrates the gift of the Spirit to the church. This week's prayers will reflect on the Holy Spirit, God's Ruah.