Prayers of St. Thomas Aquinas
St. Thomas Aquinas gave the Church some of the greatest theology it has ever known. Tradition says he never studied, wrote, or preached without praying first. These are his prayers: for study, for ordering your life, for Holy Communion, and before the Blessed Sacrament. He wrote them in Latin, so the Latin is given with each one. Pray them before you open a book, before and after Mass, or at Adoration.
“The Lord’s Prayer is the most perfect of prayers.”
St. Thomas Aquinas, quoted in the Catechism of the Catholic Church 2763
Download the printable guide (PDF): English
Download the printable guide (PDF): English and Latin
When to pray them
Pray the Prayer Before Study before you read, study, or work.
Pray his prayers before and after Holy Communion at Mass.
His hymns are sung at Adoration and Benediction. You can also pray them in silence before the Blessed Sacrament.
His feast is January 28 (March 7 in the traditional calendar).
The prayers
Each prayer is given in English, then in the Latin he wrote it in. Accent marks in the Latin show which syllable to stress.
Prayer Before Study
Tradition says he prayed this before he studied, wrote, or preached. English translation by Domini.
Ineffable Creator, who out of the treasures of Thy wisdom didst appoint three hierarchies of Angels, and didst set them in wondrous order above the highest heaven, and didst arrange the parts of the universe with such beauty: Thou, I say, who art called the true fountain of light and wisdom, and the source above all things, be pleased to pour upon the darkness of my mind a ray of Thy brightness, and take from me the double darkness in which I was born, sin and ignorance. Thou who makest eloquent the tongues of little children, teach my tongue, and pour upon my lips the grace of Thy blessing. Give me sharpness to understand, capacity to remember, method and ease in learning, subtlety in interpreting, and abundant grace in speaking. Guide my beginning, direct my progress, and bring my work to completion. Thou who art true God and true Man, who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.
or
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 completion;
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
In Latin (Oratio ante studium):
Creátor ineffábilis, qui de thesáuris sapiéntiæ tuæ tres Angelórum hierarchías designásti et eas super cælum empýreum miro órdine collocásti atque univérsi partes elegantíssime distribuísti: Tu, inquam, qui verus fons lúminis et sapiéntiæ díceris ac supereminens princípium, infúndere dignéris super intelléctus mei ténebras tuæ rádium claritátis, dúplices, in quibus natus sum, a me rémovens ténebras, peccátum scílicet et ignorántiam. Tu, qui linguas infántium facis disértas, linguam meam erúdias atque in lábiis meis grátiam tuæ benedictiónis infúndas. Da mihi intelligéndi acúmen, retinéndi capacitátem, addiscéndi modum et facilitátem, interpretándi subtilitátem, loquéndi grátiam copiósam. Ingréssum ínstruas, progréssum dírigas, egréssum cómpleas. Tu, qui es verus Deus et homo, qui vivis et regnas in sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.
Prayer for Ordering a Life Wisely
Tradition says he prayed this every day before an image of Christ. English translation by Domini.
Grant me, O merciful God, ardently to desire, wisely to search out, truly to know, and perfectly to fulfill the things that are pleasing to Thee, to the praise and glory of Thy Name.
Order my life, O my God; and what Thou requirest of me, grant that I may know it and do it, as I ought and as is good for my soul.
Grant me, O Lord my God, not to fail in prosperity or in adversity, that I be not lifted up by the one nor cast down by the other. Let me rejoice in nothing and grieve at nothing, except what leads to Thee or leads away from Thee. Let me desire to please no one, and fear to displease no one, but Thee.
Let all passing things grow worthless to me, O Lord, and all eternal things be dear to me. Let every joy without Thee weary me, and let me desire nothing apart from Thee. Let the work that is for Thee delight me, O Lord, and every rest that is without Thee be wearisome to me.
Grant me, my God, to lift my heart to Thee, and when I fall, to be sorry, with a steady purpose to amend.
Make me, O Lord my God, obedient without complaint, poor without dejection, chaste without stain, patient without murmuring, humble without pretense, cheerful without frivolity, serious without heaviness, quick without rashness, fearing Thee without despair, truthful without double-dealing, doing good without presumption, correcting my neighbor without pride, and building him up by word and example without hypocrisy.
Give me, O Lord God, a watchful heart, which no idle thought will lead away from Thee; a noble heart, which no unworthy affection will drag down; an upright heart, which no crooked intention will turn aside; a steadfast heart, which no trouble will break; a free heart, which no violent passion will claim for its own.
Bestow on me, O Lord my God, understanding to know Thee, diligence to seek Thee, wisdom to find Thee, a way of life pleasing to Thee, perseverance to wait for Thee in faith, and confidence at last to embrace Thee. Grant that I may share Thy sufferings here through penance, use Thy gifts on the way through grace, and delight in Thy joys in our homeland through glory. Who livest and reignest, God, world without end. Amen.
or
Grant me, O my God! to know Thy will, and to accomplish it perfectly to Thy glory. Give me the strength not to fail in prosperity, so as to exalt myself presumptuously; not to fail in adversity, so as to be cast down by it. Let me feel joy or sorrow at nothing else, but what leads me to Thee, or separates me from Thee. Let me desire to please none, let me fear to displease none, but Thee. Let all the goods of the world be vile to me, and all Thy gifts dear to me, for the love of Thee, and be Thou dear to me above everything. Let all joy without Thee be tediousness to me, and let every fatigue which is for Thee be pleasing to me, so that outside of Thee I may wish for nothing. Grant that to Thee I may always direct all my thoughts and all my affections. Make me, O Lord, obedient without reply, poor without desire, chaste without defilement, patient without murmur, humble without simulation, joyous without dissipation, fearful without diffidence, diligent without solicitude, prudent without duplicity. Grant me the ability to do good without presumption, to reprove without becoming haughty, to edify my neighbor by my example without dissimulation. Give me a watchful heart, that vain thoughts may not carry me away from Thee; a noble heart, that is not bowed down by unworthy affections; a right heart, that is not moved by perverse intentions; a heart strong in tribulations; a heart free from earthly attachment. Give me to be enlightened in knowing Thee, diligent in seeking Thee, wise in finding Thee, persevering in pleasing Thee, grateful in thanking Thee. Finally, give me strength in this life to embrace every punishment due to my sins, and then, in the next, the grace forever to see Thee, possess Thee, and love Thee, face to face. Amen. Mary, my queen, my hope, and my mother! I love thee, I confide in thee. I beseech thee by the love of Jesus, by the joy thou didst feel in becoming his mother, and by the sorrow thou didst feel at his death, obtain of God for me a great sorrow for my sins and the pardon of them, perseverance in a good life, a pure love towards God with a perfect conformity to his holy will. Thou art the refuge of sinners, thou art then my refuge. To thee I recommend my soul and my eternal salvation. Receive me as thy servant, and as such protect me always, and especially at the time of my death. Thou with thy powerful intercession must save me; this is my hope, thus may it be! (I don’t recall where I got this one from, I’ve had it in my private collection for some time. I saved it when going through St. Alphonsus Ligouri’s works.)
In Latin (Concede mihi, misericors Deus):
Concéde mihi, miséricors Deus, quæ tibi sunt plácita, ardénter concupíscere, prudénter investigáre, veráciter agnóscere, et perfécte adimplére ad laudem et glóriam nóminis tui.
Órdina, Deus meus, statum meum et quod a me réquiris, ut fáciam, tríbue ut sciam; et da éxsequi sicut opórtet et expédit ánimæ meæ.
Da mihi, Dómine Deus meus, inter próspera et advérsa non defícere, ut in illis non extóllar, et in istis non déprimar. De nullo gáudeam vel dóleam, nisi quod ducat ad te, vel abdúcat a te. Nulli placére áppetam, vel displicére tímeam nisi tibi.
Viléscant mihi, Dómine, ómnia transitória, et cara mihi sint ómnia ætérna. Tǽdeat me gáudii quod est sine te, nec áliud cúpiam quod extra te. Deléctet me, Dómine, labor, qui est pro te; et tædiósa sit mihi omnis quies, quæ est sine te.
Da mihi, Deus meus, cor meum ad te dírigere, et in defectióne mea cum emendatiónis propósito constánter dolére.
Fac me, Dómine Deus meus, obœdiéntem sine contradictióne, páuperem sine deiectióne, castum sine corruptióne, patiéntem sine murmuratióne, húmilem sine fictióne, hílarem sine dissolutióne, matúrum sine gravédine, ágilem sine levitáte, timéntem te sine desperatióne, verácem sine duplicitáte, operántem bona sine præsumptióne, próximum corrípere sine elatióne, ipsum ædificáre verbo et exémplo sine simulatióne.
Da mihi, Dómine Deus, cor pervígil, quod nulla abdúcat a te curiósa cogitátio: da nóbile, quod nulla deórsum trahat indígna afféctio; da rectum, quod nulla seórsum óbliquet sinístra inténtio: da firmum, quod nulla frangat tribulátio: da líberum, quod nulla sibi víndicet violénta afféctio.
Largíre mihi, Dómine Deus meus, intelléctum te cognoscéntem, diligéntiam te quæréntem, sapiéntiam te inveniéntem, conversatiónem tibi placéntem, perseverántiam fidénter te exspectántem, et fidúciam te fináliter amplecténtem. Da tuis pœnis hic affligi per pæniténtiam, tuis benefíciis in via uti per grátiam, tuis gáudiis in pátria pérfrui per glóriam: Qui vivis et regnas Deus per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.
Prayer Before Holy Communion
Found in the Roman Missal among the prayers of preparation before Mass. English translation by Domini.
Almighty and everlasting God, behold, I come to the Sacrament of Thy only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. I come as one sick to the physician of life, as one unclean to the fountain of mercy, as one blind to the light of eternal brightness, as one poor and needy to the Lord of heaven and earth. I ask, therefore, for the abundance of Thy boundless generosity, that Thou wouldst be pleased to heal my sickness, wash my uncleanness, give light to my blindness, enrich my poverty, and clothe my nakedness; that I may receive the Bread of Angels, the King of kings and Lord of lords, with such reverence and humility, such contrition and devotion, such purity and faith, such purpose and intention, as may profit the salvation of my soul.
Grant me, I pray, to receive not only the Sacrament of the Lord’s Body and Blood, but also the reality and power of the Sacrament. O most gentle God, grant me so to receive the Body of Thine only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, which He took from the Virgin Mary, that I may be worthy to be joined to His Mystical Body and counted among His members. O most loving Father, grant that I may at last behold forever, with face unveiled, Thy beloved Son, whom I now intend to receive veiled on my journey: who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.
In Latin (Oratio ante Missam):
Omnípotens sempitérne Deus, ecce accédo ad sacraméntum unigéniti Fílii tui, Dómini nostri Iesu Christi; accédo tamquam infírmus ad médicum vitæ, immúndus ad fontem misericórdiæ, cæcus ad lumen claritátis ætérnæ, pauper et egénus ad Dóminum cæli et terræ. Rogo ergo imménsæ largitátis tuæ abundántiam, quátenus meam curáre dignéris infirmitátem, laváre fœditátem, illumináre cæcitátem, ditáre paupertátem, vestíre nuditátem; ut panem Angelórum, Regem regum et Dóminum dominántium, tanta suscípiam reveréntia et humilitáte, tanta contritióne et devotióne, tanta puritáte et fide, tali propósito et intentióne, sicut expédit salúti ánimæ meæ.
Da mihi, quæso, Domínici Córporis et Sánguinis non solum suscípere sacraméntum, sed étiam rem et virtútem sacraménti. O mitíssime Deus, da mihi Corpus unigéniti Fílii tui, Dómini nostri Iesu Christi, quod traxit de Vírgine María, sic suscípere, ut córpori suo mýstico mérear incorporári, et inter eius membra connumerári. O amantíssime Pater, concéde mihi diléctum Fílium tuum, quem nunc velátum in via suscípere propóno, reveláta tandem fácie perpétuo contemplári: Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.
O Sacrum Convivium (can be said before communion and/or before Divine Office privately)
O Sacred Banquet in which Christ becomes our food, the memory of His passion is celebrated, the soul is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us.
You gave them bread from heaven.
-Containing every blessing.
Let us pray.
O God, who in this wonderful Sacrament have left us a memorial of your Passion, grant us, we pray, so to revere the sacred mysteries of your Body and Blood that we may always experience in ourselves the fruits of your redemption.
Who live and reign with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
- Amen.
Prayer After Holy Communion
Found in the Roman Missal among the prayers of thanksgiving after Mass. English translation by Domini.
I thank You, Lord, Almighty Father, Everlasting God, for having been pleased, through no merit of mine, but of Your great mercy alone, to feed me, a sinner, and Your unworthy servant, with the precious Body and Blood of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
I pray that this Holy Communion may not be for my judgment and condemnation, but for my pardon and salvation. Let this Holy Communion be to me an armor of faith and a shield of good will, a cleansing of all vices, and a rooting out of all evil desires. May it increase love and patience, humility and obedience, and all virtues.
May it be a firm defense against the evil designs of all my visible and invisible enemies, a perfect quieting of all the desires of soul and body. May this Holy Communion bring about a perfect union with You, the one true God, and at last enable me to reach eternal bliss when You will call me.
I pray that You bring me, a sinner, to the indescribable Feast where You, with Your Son and the Holy Spirit, are to Your saints true light, full blessedness, everlasting joy, and perfect happiness. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
In Latin (Oratio post Missam):
Grátias tibi ago, Dómine, sancte Pater, omnípotens ætérne Deus, qui me peccatórem, indígnum fámulum tuum, nullis meis méritis, sed sola dignatióne misericórdiæ tuæ satiáre dignátus es pretióso Córpore et Sánguine Fílii tui, Dómini nostri Iesu Christi. Et precor, ut hæc sancta commúnio non sit mihi reátus ad pœnam, sed intercéssio salutáris ad véniam. Sit mihi armatúra fídei et scutum bonæ voluntátis. Sit vitiórum meórum evacuátio, concupiscéntiæ et libídinis exterminátio, caritátis et patiéntiæ, humilitátis et obœdiéntiæ omniúmque virtútum augmentátio: contra insídias inimicórum ómnium, tam visibílium quam invisibílium firma defénsio; mótuum meórum, tam carnálium quam spirituálium, perfécta quietátio: in te uno ac vero Deo firma adhǽsio; atque finis mei felix consummátio.
Et precor te, ut ad illud ineffábile convívium me peccatórem perdúcere dignéris, ubi tu, cum Fílio tuo et Spíritu Sancto, Sanctis tuis es lux vera, satíetas plena, gáudium sempitérnum, iucúnditas consummáta et felícitas perfécta. Per eúndem Christum Dóminum nostrum. Amen.
Hidden God, Devoutly I Adore Thee
Traditionally attributed to St. Thomas, and given in the Roman Missal as a prayer of thanksgiving after Mass. English by John O’Hagan (1822–1890).
Hidden God, devoutly I adore Thee,
Truly present underneath these veils:
All my heart subdues itself before Thee,
Since it all before Thee faints and fails.
Not to sight, or taste, or touch be credit,
Hearing only do we trust secure;
I believe, for God the Son has said it,
Word of truth that ever shall endure.
On the cross was veiled Thy Godhead’s splendour,
Here Thy manhood lieth hidden too;
Unto both alike my faith I render,
And, as sued the contrite thief, I sue.
Though I look not on Thy wounds with Thomas,
Thee, my Lord, and Thee, my God, I call:
Make me more and more believe Thy promise,
Hope in Thee, and love Thee over all.
O memorial of my Saviour dying,
Living Bread, that gives life to man;
Make my soul, its life from Thee supplying,
Taste Thy sweetness, as on earth it can.
Deign, O Jesus, Pelican of heaven,
Me, a sinner, in Thy Blood to lave,
To a single drop of which is given
All the world from all its sin to save.
Contemplating, Lord, Thy hidden presence,
Grant me what I thirst for and implore,
In the revelation of Thy essence
To behold Thy glory evermore. Amen.
In Latin (Adoro te devote):
Adóro te devóte, latens Déitas,
quæ sub his figúris vere látitas:
tibi se cor meum totum súbicit,
quia te contémplans totum déficit.
Visus, tactus, gustus in te fállitur,
sed audítu solo tuto créditur;
credo quidquid dixit Dei Fílius:
nil hoc verbo Veritátis vérius.
In cruce latébat sola Déitas,
at hic latet simul et humánitas;
ambo tamen credens atque cónfitens,
peto quod petívit latro pǽnitens.
Plagas, sicut Thomas, non intúeor;
Deum tamen meum te confíteor;
fac me tibi semper magis crédere,
in te spem habére, te dilígere.
O memoriále mortis Dómini!
panis vivus, vitam præstans hómini!
præsta meæ menti de te vívere
et te illi semper dulce sápere.
Pie pellicáne, Iesu Dómine,
me immúndum munda tuo sánguine;
cuius una stilla salvum fácere
totum mundum quit ab omni scélere.
Iesu, quem velátum nunc aspício,
oro fiat illud quod tam sítio;
ut te reveláta cernens fácie,
visu sim beátus tuæ glóriæ. Amen.
O Saving Victim
The last two verses of his hymn Verbum supernum, from the Office of Corpus Christi he composed for Pope Urban IV. Sung at Adoration. English by Edward Caswall (1814–1878).
O saving Victim, opening wide
The gate of heaven to man below;
Our foes press on from every side;
Thine aid supply, Thy strength bestow.
To Thy great name be endless praise,
Immortal Godhead, One in Three;
O grant us endless length of days
In our true native land with Thee. Amen.
In Latin (O salutaris Hostia):
O salutáris Hóstia,
Quæ cæli pandis óstium:
Bella premunt hostília,
Da robur, fer auxílium.
Uni trinóque Dómino
Sit sempitérna glória,
Qui vitam sine término
Nobis donet in pátria. Amen.
Down in Adoration Falling
The last two verses of his hymn Pange lingua, sung at Benediction. The versicle and prayer that follow come from his Office of Corpus Christi. Hymn in English by Edward Caswall.
Down in adoration falling,
Lo! the sacred Host we hail;
Lo! o’er ancient forms departing,
Newer rites of grace prevail;
Faith for all defects supplying,
Where the feeble senses fail.
To the everlasting Father,
And the Son who reigns on high,
With the Holy Ghost proceeding
Forth from Each eternally,
Be salvation, honour, blessing,
Might and endless majesty. Amen.
V. You have given them bread from heaven.
R. Containing all sweetness within it.
or
V. You gave them bread from heaven.
R. Containing every blessing.
Let us pray. O God, who in this wonderful Sacrament have left us a memorial of your Passion: grant us, we pray, so to revere the sacred mysteries of your Body and Blood, that we may always experience in ourselves the fruits of your redemption. Who live and reign with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
In Latin (Tantum ergo):
Tantum ergo Sacraméntum
Venerémur cérnui:
Et antíquum documéntum
Novo cedat rítui:
Præstet fides suppleméntum
Sénsuum deféctui.
Genitóri, Genitóque
Laus et iubilátio,
Salus, honor, virtus quoque
Sit et benedíctio:
Procedénti ab utróque
Compar sit laudátio. Amen.
V. Panem de cælo præstitísti eis.
R. Omne delectaméntum in se habéntem.
Orémus. Deus, qui nobis sub Sacraménto mirábili passiónis tuæ memóriam reliquísti: tríbue, quǽsumus, ita nos Córporis et Sánguinis tui sacra mystéria venerári, ut redemptiónis tuæ fructum in nobis iúgiter sentiámus. Qui vivis et regnas in sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.
The Prayer of His Feast
The Church’s prayer for his feast in the traditional Roman Missal (1962). English translation by Domini.
O God, who dost make Thy Church glorious by the wonderful learning of blessed Thomas Thy Confessor, and fruitful by his holy works: grant us, we beseech Thee, both to understand what he taught and to follow in deed what he did. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.
In Latin (Oratio):
Deus, qui Ecclésiam tuam beáti Thomæ Confessóris tui mira eruditióne claríficas, et sancta operatióne fecúndas: da nobis, quǽsumus; et quæ dócuit, intelléctu conspícere, et quæ egit, imitatióne complére. Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.
Sources & further reading
Catechism of the Catholic Church 2763, on the Lord’s Prayer
Roman Missal of 1962: the prayers of preparation before Mass and thanksgiving after Mass, and the prayer for the feast of St. Thomas Aquinas
Thesaurus Precum Latinarum, for checking the Latin texts
English translations: “Adoro te” by John O’Hagan (1822–1890); “O Salutaris” and “Tantum ergo” by Edward Caswall (1814–1878); both public domain. The other prayers are translated by Domini.
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