Prayer before Studying

by Saint 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.

Translated and adapted from French by Dr. Chau T. Phan, Professor Emeritus, Rider University, Lawrenceville, New Jersey, from Fernand Lelotte, S.J. Rabboni: Consignes et prières pour mieux servir, 9è édition, 1958 (Paris, Casterman; Bruxelles, Foyer Notre-Dame. Imprimatur, 1955.)