SEND FORTH YOUR SPIRIT

When we prepare the altar for the Liturgy of the Eucharist, we are doing more than just bringing up bread and wine—we are asking God to transform our humble offerings. Azuine-Uche Bruno’s "Send Forth Your Spirit" captures this profound moment beautifully. The song draws directly from the Eucharistic Prayers, asking the Holy Spirit to descend upon the gifts "like a dew fall" and to consecrate them just as God accepted the ancient sacrifices of Abel and Melchizedek.

For a choir, this piece is incredibly versatile. It serves perfectly as an Offertory hymn, especially during Pentecost or solemn feast days, but its verses also make it deeply appropriate for Communion. The text moves naturally from the presentation of the gifts in the first verse to the memorial acclamation in the third, reminding everyone in the pews of the great mystery unfolding on the altar.

Musically, the arrangement is reverent and flowing. There is a grounding repetition at the end of every verse where the choir pleads, "bless them, bless them that they may become for us the Body of Christ." It gives the singers a moment of intense, shared prayer before returning to the sweeping melody of the main refrain. It is the kind of song that helps quiet the church and focus every mind on the sacrifice of the Mass.