Oratio Latina · Translatio

Prayer before Study

A prayer of Saint Thomas Aquinas for light, order and fruitfulness in study.

Today in the Church’s prayer

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Latina

Creator ineffabilis, qui de thesauris sapientiae Tuae tres Angelorum hierarchias designasti et eas super caelum empyreum miro ordine collocasti, atque universi partes elegantissime disposuisti: Tu, inquam, qui verus fons luminis et sapientiae diceris atque supereminens principium, infundere digneris super intellectus mei tenebras Tuae radium claritatis, duplices in quibus natus sum a me removens tenebras, peccatum scilicet et ignorantiam.

Tu, qui linguas infantium facis disertas, linguam meam erudias atque in labiis meis gratiam Tuae benedictionis infundas. Da mihi intelligendi acumen, retinendi capacitatem, addiscendi modum et facilitatem, interpretandi subtilitatem, loquendi gratiam copiosam. Ingressum instruas, progressum dirigas, egressum compleas. Tu, qui es verus Deus et homo, qui vivis et regnas in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

English

Ineffable Creator, who from the treasures of Thy wisdom hast established three hierarchies of angels and set them in wondrous order above the highest heaven, and hast disposed all parts of the universe most elegantly: Thou who art called the true fountain of light and wisdom and the first beginning, deign to let a ray of Thy brightness penetrate the darkness of my understanding, removing from me the twofold darkness in which I was born, namely sin and ignorance.

Thou who makest the tongues of infants eloquent, instruct my tongue and pour upon my lips the grace of Thy blessing. Give me keenness of understanding, capacity to retain, method and ease in learning, subtlety in interpreting and abundant grace in speaking. Order the beginning, direct the progress and perfect the conclusion. Thou who art true God and man, who livest and reignest for ever and ever. Amen.