St. Thomas Aquinas’ Prayer for Scholars

Ineffable Creator,

You who are the true source of life and wisdom and the Principle on which everything depends, be so kind as to infuse in my obscure intelligence a ray of your splendor that may take away the darkness of sin and ignorance.

Grant me keenness of understanding, ability to remember, measure and easiness of learning, discernment of what I read, rich grace with words.

Grant me strength to begin well my studies; guide me along the path of my efforts; give them a happy ending.

You who are true God and true Man, Jesus my Savior, who lives and reigns forever.

Amen

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When I was in graduate school, Davy Carozza, father of my brother-in-law, gave me this prayer from Thomas Aquinas.  It helped a lot, getting through grad school, and it’s still a moving prayer.