Prayers of St. Thomas Aquinas

Prayers to and by St. Thomas Aquinas
Patron of Students

to Seek Ye First

Wonderful Theologian and Doctor of the Church, you learned more from the Crucifix than from books. Combining both sources, you left us the marvelous Summa of theology, broadcasting most glorious enlightenment to all.
You always sought for true light and studied for God's honor and glory.
Help us all to study our religion as well as all other subjects needed for life,
without ambition and pride in imitation of you. Amen.

O God, who dost enlighten Thy Church with the wonderful learning of blessed Thomas, Thy confessor, and dost render it fruitful by his holy works, grant us, we beseech Thee, both to understand that which he taught, and to follow his example in what he practiced. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth, with the Holy Ghost, One God, world without end. Amen.

Prayers by St. Thomas Aquinas

Almighty and ever-living God, I approach the sacrament of your only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. I come sick to the doctor of life, unclean to the fountain of mercy, blind to the radiance of eternal light, and poor and needy to the Lord of heaven and earth. Lord, in your great generosity, heal my sickness, wash away my defilement, enlighten my blindness, enrich my poverty, and clothe my nakedness.

May I receive the bread of angels, the King of kings and Lord of lords, with
humble reverence, with the purity and faith, the repentance and love, and the determined purpose that will help to bring me to salvation. May I receive the sacrament of the Lord's Body and Blood, and its reality and power.

Kind God, may I receive the Body of your only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus
Christ, born from the womb of the Virgin Mary, and so be received into His
mystical Body and numbered among his members. Loving Father, as on my
earthly pilgrimage I now receive your beloved Son, under the veil of a
sacrament, may I one day see Him Face to face in glory, who lives and reigns
with You for ever. Amen.

Lord, Father all-powerful and ever-living God, I thank You, for even though I am a sinner, your unprofitable servant, not because of my worth but in the
kindness of your mercy, You have fed me with the precious Body and Blood of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that this Holy Communion may not
bring me condemnation and punishment but forgiveness and salvation.

May It be a helmet of faith and a shield of good will. May It purify me
from evil ways and put an end to my evil passions. May It bring me charity and patience, humility and obedience, and growth in the power to do good.
May It be my strong defense against all my enemies, visible and invisible,
and the perfect calming of all my evil impulses, bodily and spiritual. May
It unite me more closely to You, the one true God, and lead me safely
through death to everlasting happiness with You.

And I pray that You will lead me, a sinner, to the banquet where You, with
your Son and Holy Spirit, are true and perfect light, total fulfillment,
everlasting joy, gladness without end, and perfect happiness to your saints.
Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

O Lord my God, help me to be obedient without reserve, poor without
servility, chaste without compromise, humble without pretense, joyful
without depravity, serious without affectation, active without frivolty,
submissive without bitterness, truthful without duplicity, fruitful in good
works without presumption, quick to revive my neighbor without haughtiness, and quick to edify others by word and example without simulation.

Grant me, O Lord, an ever-watchful heart that no alien thought can lure away from You; a noble heart that no base love can sully; an upright heart that
no perverse intention can lead astray; an invincible heart that no distress
can overcome; an unfettered heart that no impetuous desires can enchain.

O Lord my God, also bestow upon me understanding to know You, zeal to seek You, wisdom to find You, a life that is pleasing to You, unshakable
perseverance, and a hope that will one day take hold of You.

May I do penance here below and patiently bear your chastisements. May I also receive the benefits of your grace, in order to taste your heavenly
joys and contemplate your glory. Amen.

Virgin full of goodness, Mother of mercy, I entrust to you my body and my
soul, my thoughts and my actions, my life and my death. O my Queen, come to
my aid and deliver me from the snares of the devil. Obtain for me the grace
of loving my Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, with a true and perfect love, and
after Him, O Mary, of loving you with all my heart and above all things.
Amen.

God, our Father, You made Thomas Aquinas known for his holiness and learning. Help us to grow in wisdom by his teaching, and in holiness by his faith. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit; One God, forever and ever. Amen.

Litany of Saint Thomas Aquinas
For private use only

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven, Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost, Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, Have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, Pray for us.
Glorious Mother of the King of kings, Pray for us.
Saint Thomas of Aquinas,Pray for us.
Worthy child of the Queen of virgins, Pray for us.
St. Thomas most chaste, Pray for us.
St. Thomas most patient, Pray for us.
Prodigy of science, Pray for us.
Silently eloquent, Pray for us.
Reproach of the ambitious, Pray for us.
Lover of that life which is hidden with Christ, Pray for us.
Fragrant flower in the garden of Saint Dominic, Pray for us.
Glory of the Friars Preachers, Pray for us.
Illumined from on high, Pray for us.
Angel of the Schools, Pray for us.
Oracle of the Church, Pray for us.
Incomparable scribe of the Man-God, Pray for us.
Satiated with the odor of His perfumes, Pray for us.
Perfect in the school ofHis Cross, Pray for us.
Intoxicated with the strong wine of His charity, Pray for us.
Glittering gem in the cabinet of the Lord, Pray for us.
Model of perfect obedience, Pray for us.
Endowed with the true spirit of holy poverty, Pray for us.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.

Oh, how beautiful is the chaste generation with glory,
For the memory thereof is immortal.
Because it is known with God and man,
And it triumpheth crowned forever.

V. What have I in Heaven, or what do I desire on earth!
R. Thou art the God of my heart, and my portion forever.

Let Us Pray: O God, Who hast ordained that blessed Thomas should enlighten Thy Church, grant that through his prayers we may practice what he taught, through Christ Our Lord. R. Amen.