Prayers

Before

℣. In the Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
℟. Amen.

After

℣. Thou, O Lord, have mercy on us.
℟. Thanks be to God.

Angel of God's light, whom God sends
as a companion for me on earth,
protect me from the snares of the devil,
and help me to walk always
as a child of God, my Creator.

Angel of God's truth, whose
perfect knowledge serves what is true,
protect me from deceits and temptations.
Help me to know the truth,
and always to live the truth.

Angel of God's love, who praises
Jesus Christ, the only Son of God,
who sacrificed His life for love of us,
sustain me as I learn the ways
of Divine love, of sacrificial generosity,
of meekness and lowliness of heart.

Thank You, my heavenly friend,
for your watchful care.
At the moment of my death,
bring me to heaven, where the one true God,
Who is light, truth and love,
lives and reigns forever and ever.

Amen.

Prayer before study by St Thomas Aquinas

O Infinite Creator, Who of the riches of Thy wisdom
didst appoint three hierarchies of Angels
and didst set them in wondrous order over the highest heavens,
and Who didst apportion the elements of the world most wisely:
do Thou, Who art in truth the fountain of light and wisdom,
deign to shed upon the darkness of my understanding
the rays of Thine infinite brightness, and remove far from me
the twofold darkness in which I was born, namely, sin and ignorance.
Do Thou, Who givest speech to the tongues of little children,
instruct my tongue and pour into my lips the grace of Thy benediction.
Give me keenness of apprehension, capacity for remembering,
method and ease in learning, insight in interpretation,
and copious eloquence in speech.
Instruct my beginning, direct my progress,
and set Thy seal upon the finished work,
Thou, Who art true God and true Man,
Who livest and reignest world without end.

Amen.