LiturgyTools.net: Hymn suggestions, Pentecost Sunday, Year A (24 May 2026)

A selection of free-to-use (ie public domain or copyright-free) hymns and songs, based on themes from the Roman Catholic lectionary for Pentecost Sunday in Year A.

"Free-to-use" means the words can be copied and sung to at least one tune with no concerns about copyright or performance licensing - sometimes in a limited setting. Many of these hymns are old/traditional - but where possible a variety of styles and genres are included. A small list of hymns that are still copyright, but are particularly relevant, may also be included.

Suggestions about hymns that could be included are welcome: leave a message in the Comments box near the bottom of the page.

Seasonal Note

Separate readings are used for Vigil Masses, so the following applies to Masses during the day.

Many of the suggested hymns for Confirmation are also suitable for Pentecost.

Pentecost Sunday, Year C

Ascension, Year A

Trinity Sunday, Year A

Pentecost Sunday, Year B

Readings

First: Acts 2: 1-11 - The gathered apostles heard the wind, were filled with the Holy Spirit, and able to speak in the languages of everyone in Jerusalem.

Psalm: 103 - Send forth your spirit O Lord and renew the face of the earth / Bless the Lord my soul / You take back your spirit they die / May the glory of the Lord last forever

Second: Corinthians 12: 3-7, 12-13 - There is a variety of gifts, but always the same Spirit .. in whom we are all baptised.

Gospel: John 20: 19-23 - Peace be with you - as the Father sent me, so I am sending you - receive the Holy Spirit.

Themes

Receiving the Holy Spirit - being taught and empowered by it, and sent out to the world.

Free-use artwork

See lectionary art for this Sunday for suggested pictures and art-works based on today's readings.

Free-use hymns

All Hail Adored Trinity
Amazing Grace
Awake My Soul And With the Sun - Ken
Be Thou my Vision

Come Down O Love Divine
Come Holy Ghost Creator Blest / Come O Creator Spirit Blest - Edward Caswall (1814-1878)
Come Holy Ghost Creator Come - Unknown, pre 1872
Creator Spirit, by Whose Aid - John Dryden (1631-1700)
Hail Thee Festival Day - composite trans from the English Hymnal 1906
Hail this joyful Day's Return - Robert Campbell (1814-1868)
Holy Spirit Breathe on Me (until my heart is clean) - Baylus Benjamin (BB) McKinney (1886-1952)
Holy Spirit Lord of Light - Edward Caswall (1814-1878)
Holy Spirit Truth Divine - Longfellow

If you Believe and I Believe
In Christ there is no East or West - William A. Dunkerley (pseudonym John Oxenham, 1852-1941)
Joy Because the Circling Year - John Ellerton (1826-1893) and Fenton J. A. Hort (1828-1892)
Love Divine all Loves Excelling

O Breath of God - Alfred H. Vine (1845-1917)
O Breathe on Me O Breath of God - Edwin Hatch (1835-1889)
O Holy Ghost (thy people bless - PD
O Holy Spirit, Enter In - Catherine Winkworth (1827-1878)
O Spirit of the Living God - James Montgomery (1771-1854)
O Thou Who Camest From Above - Wesley

Praise God From Whom all Blessings Flow - Thomas Ken
Spirit Divine Attend Our Prayers - Reed
The Church's One Foundation - Samuel John Stone (1839–1900)
Thine be the Glory - Richard Birch Hoyle (1875-1939)

There are various settings of these Latin chants - some copyright, some not:

Veni Creator Spiritus
Veni Lumen Cordium
Veni Sanctus Spiritus
Veni Lumen Cordium
Adsumus Sancte Spiritus

There are various setting of the Pentecost Sequence (Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful ...) - some free-use, some not.

Hymns which may still be copyright

Abba Father Send Your Spirit - Virginia (Ginny) Vissing
Anointing Fall on Me - Donn Thomas (1949-2023)
Awakening (In our hearts, Lord, in this nation) - Chris Tomlin (), Reuben Morgan ()
Breathe on Us - Ed Cash, Kari Jobe
Burning in My Soul - Daniel Carson, Matt Maher, Jesse Reeves, Brett Younker
By the Waking of Our Hearts - Ricky Manalo

Christ, Our Peace - Marty Haugen (b. 1950)
Come Holy Spirit I Need You - Gaither / Gaither
Come, O Holy Spirit, come (and from your celestial home) - Owen Alstott
Consuming Fire (There must be more than this) - Tim Hughes (b. 1977)
Enemy of Apathy - John L Bell (b. 1949), Maule (1958-2019)

Fall Afresh (Awaken my soul) - Jeremy Riddle
Fall Like Rain - Passion - Beau Maddox, Bede Benjamin-Korporaal, Zahriya Zachary, Brett Younker
Fire of God, Undying Flame - Albert F. Bayly (1901-1984)
Flowing River (Pour Your Holy Spirit upon me) - Rita Baloche (1998)
Forth in the Peace of Christ we Go - Quinn - James Quinn (1919-2010)

Go Make of All Disciples - Adkins (1896-1986)
Go Tell Everyone (God's Spirit is in my Heart) - Dale / Richards - Dale / Richards
Go, Be Justice (to God's people) - Martin Willett (b. 1960)
God, Whose Purpose Is to Kindle - David E. Trueblood (1900-1994)
Holy Spirit (There's nothing worth more) - Bryan Torwalt, Katie Torwalt
Holy Spirit Come Confirm Us - Brian Foley (1919-2000)
Holy Spirit, Come Now - Jesse Manibusan
Holy Spirit, We're Calling You - Ed Bolduc

I Send You Out - John Angotti
Let the Weight of Your Glory Fall - Steve Merkel
Litany of the Spirit - Paul Hillebrand
Living Spirit Holy Fire - Duck (b. 1947)
Lord Send Your Spirit - Aaron Thompson
Lord, Send Out Your Spirit - Joe Zsigray (1953-2014)
Lord, Send Out Your Spirit (Bless the Lord, O my soul,) - Paul Lisicky (b. 1959)

O Holy Spirit, by Whose Breath - John Webster Grant (1919-2006)
O Living Water, Refresh My Soul - Virginia (Ginny) Vissing
On Pentecost They Gathered - Jane Parker Huber (1926-2008)
One Bread One Body - Foley
Rest of Us (Come down Spirit when You move) - Brandon Lake, Elyssa Smith, Harvest Bashta, Jonathan Jay, Rebekah White, Tony Brown