Ante Studium
A Prayer Before Study by Saint Thomas Aquinas
Ineffable Creator,
Who, from the treasures of your wisdom,
has established three hierarchies of angels,
has arrayed them in marvelous order
above the fiery heaven,
And has marshaled the regions
of the universe with such artful skill,
You are proclaimed
the true font of light and wisdom,
and the primal origin
raised high above 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.
