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.
It’s not easy being a student. In fact, it is not supposed to be. School, at any level – from pre-K to grad school — is meant to be challenging. Paraphrasing St. John of the Cross, “to come to enjoy what you don’t know, you must go through what you don’t know,” and even though learning is a deeply satisfying experience, the process itself can often be frustratingly hard, and we might find ourselves in need of a little help from our friends.
In the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom, students often find themselves traversing the challenging path of academia. To seek divine guidance and enlightenment on this scholarly journey, many turn to the wisdom of saints. Saint Thomas Aquinas, a medieval theologian and philosopher, left a profound legacy that includes a prayer specifically crafted for students. In this blog post, we explore the depth and significance of Saint Thomas Aquinas’ prayer, seeking inspiration and solace for those navigating the realms of education.
A Scholar’s Supplication: Saint Thomas Aquinas’ Prayer for Students
1. Understanding Saint Thomas Aquinas:
Saint Thomas Aquinas, a Doctor of the Church, was renowned for his synthesis of faith and reason. His writings, including the famous “Summa Theologica,” continue to influence Christian theology and philosophy. Born in the 13th century, Aquinas’ intellectual contributions earned him the title “Angelic Doctor.”
2. The Prayer for Students:
“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.”
3. Unveiling the Depth of the Prayer:
- Creator of All Things: The prayer begins with an acknowledgment of God as the ultimate source of all creation and knowledge. It sets the tone by expressing humility and dependence on the divine for understanding and wisdom.
- True Source of Light and Wisdom: Aquinas recognizes God as the true source of enlightenment, emphasizing the divine nature of wisdom that surpasses earthly knowledge. This reflects the saint’s commitment to integrating faith and reason.
- Origin of All Being: In recognizing God as the origin of all existence, the prayer highlights the foundational importance of divine guidance in understanding the complexities of life and learning.
- Ray of Light: The metaphorical request for a “ray of light” signifies a plea for divine illumination to penetrate the darkness of ignorance and sin, symbolizing a desire for spiritual and intellectual clarity.
- Keen Understanding and Retentive Memory: Aquinas seeks intellectual gifts—keen understanding and retentive memory. This reflects a desire for a comprehensive grasp of knowledge and the ability to retain it for scholarly pursuits.
- Thoroughness and Charm in Expression: The prayer expresses a wish for eloquence and charm in communication. Aquinas recognizes the importance of effective expression in conveying ideas, a skill crucial for both academic and interpersonal success.
4. Applying the Prayer to Modern Education:
In the contemporary context, students face diverse challenges, and Saint Thomas Aquinas’ prayer remains relevant. As students navigate the complexities of academic pursuits, the prayer serves as a timeless supplication for divine guidance, intellectual prowess, and effective communication skills.
Saint Thomas Aquinas Prayer For Students
That’s where St. Thomas Aquinas, patron saint of scholars, walks in: here’s a prayer he himself wrote, addressing God as the source of all knowledge.
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 Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer to St. Rita
O Holy Patroness of those in need, St. Rita, whose pleadings before thy Divine Lord are almost irresistible, who for thy lavishness in granting favors hast been called the Advocate of the HOPELESS and even of the IMPOSSIBLE; St. Rita, so humble, so pure, so mortified, so patient and of such compassionate love for the Crucified Jesus that thou couldst obtain from Him whatsoever thou askest, on account of which all confidently have recourse to thee, expecting, if not always relief, at least comfort; be propitious to our petition, showing thy power with God on behalf of thy suppliant; be lavish to us, as thou hast been in so many wonderful cases, for the greater glory of God, for the spreading of thine own devotion, and for the consolation of those who trust in thee. We promise, if our petition is granted, to glorify thee by making known thy favor, to bless and sing thy praises forever. Relying then upon thy merits and power before the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we pray thee grant that (here mention your request).
St thomas aquinas: prayer for wisdom
By the singular merits of thy childhood, obtain for us our request.
By thy perfect union with the Divine Will, obtain for us our request.
By thy heroic sufferings during thy married life, obtain for us our request.
By the consolation thou didst experience at the conversion of thy husband, obtain for us our request.
By the sacrifice of thy children rather than see them grievously offend God, obtain for us our request.
By the severe penances and trice daily scourgings, obtain for us our request.
By the suffering caused by the wound thou didst receive from the thorn of thy Crucified Savior, obtain for us our request.
By the divine love which consumed thy heart, obtain for us our request.
By that remarkable devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, on which alone thou dost exist for four years, obtain for us our request.
By the happiness with which thou didst part from thy trials to join thy Divine Spouse, obtain for us our request.
By the perfect example you gavest to people of every state of life, obtain for us our request.
Pray for us, O holy St. Rita, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray:
O God, Who in Thine infinite tenderness hast vouchsafed to regard the prayer of Thy servant, Blessed Rita, and dost grant to her supplication that which is impossible to human foresight, skill and efforts, in reward of her compassionate love and firm reliance on Thy promise, have pity on our adversity and succor us in our calamities, that the unbeliever may know Thou art the recompense of the humble, the defense of the helpless, and the strength of those who trust in Thee, through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
I’m going to college soon and it’s scary, but I know that God is there with me.
Grant me, O Lord my God, a mind to know you, a heart to seek you, wisdom to find you, conduct pleasing to you, faithful perseverance in waiting for you, and a hope of finally embracing you.
The prayer is a reminder that God is the source of all wisdom, knowledge, truth and goodness. It reminds us that God is the source of beauty. The prayer also reminds us that God’s love for us has no bounds.
Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
As we end our prayer, say Amen: so be it. Amen means “so be it” or “truly it is so”. It is not just saying a word but rather making a commitment to God that you will do what He wants you to do in your life, whether it be study hard for exams or meet someone new at school. Amen also means that even though you may be struggling right now with life issues, there is still hope in our Lord Jesus Christ who died on the cross for us all so that we can live again after death.
I learned that if I trust and ask in prayer (to God) then wisdom will be granted.
The next time you are faced with a situation in which you need to make a decision, instead of trying to figure everything out on your own, pray. Pray and ask God (or Jesus) for wisdom. Trust that he will guide you in the right direction and grant you the wisdom necessary to make the best choice.
I hope you will be enlightened by these words of wisdom, and that they will help you in your life as students.
St. Thomas Aquinas was a Dominican priest who lived in the 13th century. He is one of the Church’s greatest theologians and philosophers, but he also had an interest in natural science, particularly biology and astronomy. Aquinas spent much of his life teaching at universities such as Paris and Naples. During this time he wrote many works on theology, philosophy—including Summa contra Gentiles (1259–64) and Summa Theologiae (1265–74), which became so important that they were sometimes referred to simply as “the Summa”—and political thought (he was heavily influenced by Aristotle).
Prayer to Saint Thomas Aquinas
Prayer to Saint Thomas Aquinas
Dear St. Thomas, the light of truth and the model of Christian wisdom, enlighten our minds with your divine doctrine and give us grace to understand it. Your teaching will lead us to know God better; as a result we will love him more. Help us to walk through life confidently because you are always at our side guiding us on our way toward heaven! Amen!
Saint Thomas Aquinas prayer for students
Saint Thomas Aquinas prayer for students
- “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
- “Lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil.”
- “Grant, O Lord, that I may always desire the things that are above and not those which are on earth.”
Saint Thomas Aquinas prayer for students is a powerful prayer that you can use to help you through any difficulties that you may have in school. It is important to know that Saint Thomas Aquinas himself was very intelligent and he was able to understand many things about God through his studies. This makes him an ideal person for students who are having trouble understanding concepts or figuring out how best to study their subject matter.
Conclusion:
Saint Thomas Aquinas’ prayer for students echoes through the corridors of time, resonating with seekers of knowledge across generations. As students embark on their educational journeys, may this prayer be a source of inspiration and a reminder of the divine light that guides the pursuit of wisdom. In the words of the Angelic Doctor, may students find illumination, understanding, and eloquence on their scholarly paths.