As We Start The New Day: An Aquinas Contemplation

Are you starting a new job today?

Perhaps an uncertain new business venture or a school project?

Or maybe you’re just starting today with some trepidation, anxiety, or fear – whether real or imagined, whether defined or undefined.

Perhaps Thomas Aquinas’ contemplation, his prayer before work or study, is a good way to move forward from here. I have found it so.

My hope is that you may as well:

Ineffable Creator
Who, from the treasures of Your wisdom,
have established three hierarchies of angels,
have arrayed them in marvelous order
above the fiery heavens,
and have marshalled the regions of the universe
with such artful skill,

You are proclaimed
the true font of light and wisdom,
and the primal origin
raised high beyond all things.

Pour forth a ray of Your brightness
into the darkened places of my mind;
disperse from my soul
the twofold darkness
into which I was born:
sin and ignorance.

You make eloquent the tongues of infants.
Refine my speech
and pour forth upon my lips
the goodness of Your blessing.

Grant to me
keenness of mind,
capacity to remember,
skill in learning,
subtlety to interpret,
and eloquence in speech.

May you
guide the beginning of my work,
direct its progress,
and bring it to completion.
You Who are true God and true Man,
Who live and reign, world without end.

St. Thomas Aquinas, Published in the Raccolta #764, Pius XI Studiorum Ducem, 1923.