Novena to St. Thomas Aquinas

Day 5

10 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.

Novena to St. Thomas Aquinas

Opening prayer:

O ineffable Creator, who gave to St. Thomas Aquinas a burning love of truth, send forth Your light into our minds and Your love into our hearts. By his prayers grant us to seek, to find, and to rest in You, the Truth that never fails. Amen.

Read the meditation and offer the intention of the day.

Day 5: The bread of angels

In the sequence Lauda Sion, composed at the Pope's request for Corpus Christi, Thomas sang of the Eucharist as the bread of angels become the bread of pilgrims, given to the children of men. The food of heaven is laid upon our altars and into our hands. He teaches us to approach Holy Communion with reverence, wonder, and burning love for so great a gift.

O Saint Thomas Aquinas, who sang of the bread of angels given to mortal men, prepare my heart to receive so great a gift. Cleanse me of all that is unworthy, and fill me with reverence and love when I approach the altar, that the Bread of heaven may make me holy and unite me wholly to Christ. Amen.

Today's intention:

For greater reverence in receiving Holy Communion.

Pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be.

Our Father

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

Pater noster, qui es in cælis,

sanctificétur nomen tuum.

Advéniat regnum tuum.

Fiat volúntas tua, sicut in cælo et in terra.

Panem nostrum quotidiánum da nobis hódie,

et dimítte nobis débita nostra,

sicut et nos dimíttimus debitóribus nostris.

Et ne nos indúcas in tentatiónem,

sed líbera nos a malo.

Amen.

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou amongst women,

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

Ave María, grátia plena, Dóminus tecum.

Benedícta tu in muliéribus,

et benedíctus fructus ventris tui, Iesus.

Sancta María, Mater Dei,

ora pro nobis peccatóribus,

nunc et in hora mortis nostræ.

Amen.

Glory Be

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.

Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper,

et in sǽcula sæculórum.

Amen.

Closing prayer:

O Angelic Doctor, who adored the hidden God in the Blessed Sacrament and counted all learning as straw before His glory, obtain for us a humble and ardent faith. May we love truth for God's sake and adore Him with all our heart. Amen.

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.