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Prayer Before Study

2 min
Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

In nómine Patris, et Fílii, et Spíritus Sancti. Amen.

Creator of all things, true Source of light and wisdom, lofty origin of all being, graciously let a ray of Your brilliance penetrate into the darkness of my understanding and take from me the double darkness in which I have been born, an obscurity of both sin and ignorance. Give me a sharp sense of 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; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Creator ineffabilis, qui de thesauris sapientiae tuae tres Angelorum hierarchias designasti et eas super caelum empyreum miro ordine collocasti atque universi partes elegantissime distribuisti: tu, inquam, qui verus fons luminis et sapientiae diceris ac 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; per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

About this prayer

St. Thomas Aquinas's prayer before study, writing, or any intellectual work — *Creator ineffabilis*. He reportedly recited it before he began to compose.

History

Composed by St. Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274). Pope Pius XI placed it in his 1923 encyclical *Studiorum Ducem*, marking the sixth centenary of Aquinas's canonization, and recommended it to all Catholic students.

How to pray it

Pray slowly at the start of any session of study, writing, or preaching — asking light for the mind, accuracy of memory, clarity of speech, and that the beginning, progress, and end of the work be ordered by God.

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