Thomas Aquinas

Feast: January 28
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Thomas Aquinas

Saint Thomas Aquinas was an Italian Dominican friar, philosopher, and theologian who lived from 1225 to 1274. His monumental work, the Summa Theologica, remains one of the most influential works in Western philosophy and Catholic theology. He is known as the “Angelic Doctor.”

Patron of:
  • Students
  • Universities
  • Theologians
  • Philosophers
Oratio Ante Studium
Creator ineffábilis,
Ineffable Creator,
qui de thesáuris sapiéntiae tuae
who from the treasures of Your wisdom
tres Angelórum hierarchías designásti
have established three hierarchies of angels
et eas super caelum empýreum
and set them above the empyrean heaven
miro órdine collocásti
in wonderful order,
atque univérsi partes elegantíssime distribuísti:
and have apportioned the parts of the universe most elegantly:
Tu, inquam, qui verus fons lúminis et sapiéntiae díceris
You who are called the true font of light and wisdom
ac superéminens princípium,
and the primal origin,
infúndere dignéris super intelléctus mei ténebras
deign to pour upon the darkness of my understanding
tuae rádium claritátis,
the ray of Your brightness,
dúplicem in qua natus sum
removing from me the double darkness
a me remóvens caliginem, peccátum scílicet et ignorántiam.
in which I was born, namely sin and ignorance.
Da mihi intelléctus acúmen,
Give me keenness of understanding,
memoriae capacitátem,
capacity for remembering,
addiscéndi modum et facilitátem,
method and ease in learning,
interpretándi subtilitátem,
subtlety in interpreting,
loquéndi grátiam copiosam.
and abundant grace in speaking.
Ingréssum ínstruas, progréssum dírigas,
Order my beginning, direct my progress,
egréssum compleas.
and set Your seal upon the finished work.
Per Christum Dóminum nostrum.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Amen.
— Attributed to Saint Thomas Aquinas
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