David Haas, (born in 1958 in Bridgeport, Michigan), is an American author a… Read Full Bio ↴David Haas, (born in 1958 in Bridgeport, Michigan), is an American author and composer of liturgical music, primarily for Roman Catholic congregations. He is among the most widely-sung living liturgical composers today.

Haas lives in Eagan, Minnesota where he is the Director of the Emmaus Center for Music, Prayer and Ministry. He is also Campus Minister and Artist in Residence at Benilde-St. Margaret's School in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, where he teaches in the music and theology departments.

Haas has produced over forty original collections and recordings of liturgical music. His music is sung throughout the world and appears in many hymnals of various denominations and languages. His best-known works include sacred songs and hymns, including "Blest Are They", "We Have Been Told", "You Are Mine", "Song of the Body of Christ" and "We Will Rise Again", as well as several Masses, collections of ritual music, and collections of psalm settings and paraphrases.

Send Us Your Spirit
David Haas Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

1. Come to us, Spirit of God. Breathe in us now. We sing together.
Spirit of hope and of light, fill our lives.
Come to us, Spirit of God.

2. Fill us with the fire of love. Burn in us now. Bring us together.
Come to us; dwell in us. Change our lives, oh Lord. Come to us, Spirit of God.

3. Send us the wings of new birth.

Fill all the earth with the love you have taught us.

Let all creation now be shaken with love. Come to us, Spirit of God.

Overall Meaning

David Haas's "Send Us Your Spirit" is a powerful and emotional hymn that speaks of the need for the Holy Spirit to enter into the lives of the faithful, to bring them hope, light, and love. The opening verse, "Come to us, Spirit of God. Breathe in us now. We sing together. Spirit of hope and of light, fill our lives," asks the Holy Spirit to take over and fill the void within the singer's soul. It is an acknowledgement of our dependence on the Holy Spirit for enlightenment, guidance, and strength. The hymn speaks of the need to be filled with the Holy Spirit and become united in His love.

The second verse, "Fill us with the fire of love. Burn in us now. Bring us together. Come to us; dwell in us. Change our lives, oh Lord. Come to us, Spirit of God," describes the intensity of our desire to come closer to God. We ask that the flames of His love ignite the embers within our hearts, bringing us closer both to Him and to one another. We invite the Holy Spirit to come and dwell within us, changing us in the process.

The third verse, "Send us the wings of new birth. Fill all the earth with the love you have taught us. Let all creation now be shaken with love. Come to us, Spirit of God," reflects the need for spiritual rebirth. We ask that the Holy Spirit reawaken our hearts to the love that we have forgotten. We pray that this love be so contagious that it reaches the furthest reaches of the earth, shaking humanity from its slumber.

Overall, the hymn expresses the need for a spiritual awakening, for the Holy Spirit to come upon us and fill us with His grace and wisdom, and for us to be united with one another in God's love.

Line by Line Meaning

Come to us, Spirit of God. Breathe in us now. We sing together.
We call upon you, Spirit of God, to enter our beings and unite us in song.

Spirit of hope and of light, fill our lives.
We ask that you infuse our lives with hope and illuminate our paths.

Fill us with the fire of love. Burn in us now. Bring us together.
Ignite within us a passionate love and bring us together in harmony.

Come to us; dwell in us. Change our lives, oh Lord. Come to us, Spirit of God.
Make your home inside us and transform us, oh Lord. Come to us, Spirit of God.

Send us the wings of new birth.
Grant us the ability to soar into new beginnings.

Fill all the earth with the love you have taught us.
Spread your love throughout the world as you have taught us.

Let all creation now be shaken with love. Come to us, Spirit of God.
Let love reverberate throughout all creation. Come to us, Spirit of God.

Contributed by Alexander K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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