O Ignee Spiritus (O Fiery Spirit)

O Ignee Spiritus is a hymn to the Holy Spirit by the German mystic Saint Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179). It begins: "O ignee Spiritus, laus tibi sit, qui in timpanis et citharis operaris (O fiery Spirit, praise to you, who on the tympana and lyre work and play!)". Complete Latin text, English translation, music score, and commentary can be found here (opens in new window). In 2012, Benedict XVI declared her a Doctor of the Universal Church, citing this 12th century Benedictine abbess as "an authentic teacher of theology and a profound scholar of natural science and music."