A Student's Prayer (by St.

Thomas Aquinas)
Come, Holy Spirit, Divine Creator, true source of light and fountain of wisdom! Pour forth your brilliance upon my dense intellect, dissipate the darkness which covers me, that of sin and of ignorance. Grant me a penetrating mind to understand, a retentive memory, method and ease in learning, the lucidity to comprehend, and abundant grace in expressing myself. Guide the beginning of my work, direct its progress, and bring it to successful completion. This I ask through Jesus Christ, true God and true man, living and reigning with You and the Father, forever and ever. Amen.

Student's Prayer
By St. Thomas Aquinas Creator of all things, true source of light and wisdom, origin of all being, graciously let a ray of your light penetrate the darkness of my understanding. Take from me the double darkness in which I have been born, an obscurity of sin and ignorance. Give me a keen 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. I ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Thomas Aquinas was a 13th Century Italian Priest. He is most famous for his writings on natural theology a form of theology that is based on experience and reasoning (rather than revealed theology formed from

scripture and spiritual experiences). He has had a considerable impact on the thinking and theology of the Catholic Church.

A Prayer Before Study

Quote from Summer 2004 inside back cover

This pr ayer is from St. Thomas Acqui nas.

When our lives become more hectic and intense with the pressure of papers and exams, the need for prayer is more obvious (even if it is harder to come by). This prayer has survived the test of time, and you may wish to offer it each time you study. Jeff Barneson, Graduate & Faculty Ministries campus staff worker

Ineffable Creator . . . You are proclaimed the true font of light and wisdom, and the primal origin raised high beyond all things. Pour forth a ray of Your brightness into the darkened places of my mind; disperse from my soul the twofold darkness into which I was born: sin and ignorance. You make eloquent the tongues of infants. Refine my speech and pour forth upon my lips the goodness of Your blessing. Grant to me keenness of mind, capacity to remember, skill in learning, subtlety to interpret, and eloquence in speech. May You guide the beginning of my work, direct its progress, and bring it to completion. You Who are true God and true Man, Who live and reign, world without end. Amen. St. Thomas Aquinas Published in the Raccolta #764, Pius XI Studiorum Ducem, 1923. [Adapted by permission from the Graduate & Faculty Ministries Web site.]

2004