Prayer Before Study of Saint Thomas Aquinas

Prayer Before Study

Creator of all things, true Source of light and wisdom, lofty origin of all being, graciously let a ray of Your brilliance penetrate into the darkness of my understanding and take from me the double darkness in which I have been born — an obscurity of both sin and ignorance. Give me a sharp sense of understanding, a retentive memory, and the ability to grasp things correctly and fundamentally. Grant me the talent of being exact in my explanations, and the ability to express myself with thoroughness and charm. Point out the beginning, direct the progress, and help in the completion of my work. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The "Prayer Before Study" by Saint Thomas Aquinas is a petition to God for intellectual and spiritual guidance during academic pursuits. While there are slight variations in wording across different sources, the core message remains consistent.

The prayer generally begins by addressing God as the "Creator of all things, true Source of light and wisdom, lofty origin of all being" It then asks for divine brilliance to "penetrate into the darkness of my understanding" and to remove the "double darkness in which I have been born, an obscurity of both sin and ignorance" The prayer continues by requesting specific intellectual virtues: "a sharp sense of understanding, a retentive memory, and the ability to grasp things correctly and fundamentally" It also seeks the talent of "being exact in my explanations, and the ability to express myself with thoroughness and charm" Finally, it asks for divine guidance to "Point out the beginning, direct the progress, and help in completion" concluding "through Christ our Lord. Amen"

Other versions of the prayer, while maintaining the same essence, may phrase certain parts differently. For instance, some begin with "Come, Holy Spirit, Divine Creator, true source of light and fountain of wisdom!" and ask for brilliance to be poured "upon my dense intellect, dissipate the darkness which covers me, that of sin and of ignorance" These versions also request "a penetrating mind to understand, a retentive memory, method and ease in learning, the lucidity to comprehend, and abundant grace in expressing myself" They similarly ask for guidance at the beginning, during progress, and for successful completion, often concluding with "This I ask through Jesus Christ, true God and true man, living and reigning with You and the Father, forever and ever. Amen" Saint Thomas Aquinas is recognized as the patron saint of scholars.

OTHER PRAYER: "O ineffable Creator, who ordered most perfectly our whole creation: You are the true fountain and the highest source of light and wisdom. Deign to shed a ray of your brightness on my intellect, taking from me that two-fold darkness in which I was born, namely, sin and ignorance. You who make eloquent the tongues of little ones, instruct my tongue and pour upon my lips the grace of your blessings. Grant me a keen intellect, a strong memory, method and facility in learning, subtlety in interpreting, and elegance in speech; enlighten the beginning, direct the progress, perfect the issue, you who are God and man, who live and reign for ever and ever. Amen."