A Student's Prayer by St. Thomas Aquinas

Ante Studium

Creator of all things,

True source of light and wisdom,
Origin of all beings,

Graciously let a ray of your light

Penetrate into the darkness

Of my understanding.

Take from me the double darkness

In which I have been born,

An obscurity of sin and ignorance.


Give me a keen 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 the completion.

I ask this through Christ, Our Lord.
Amen.

(this is the prayer I pray when I was in UST. Ask for St. Thomas' intercession, it's powerful!)

A Prayer Before Exams

A Prayer Before Exams

Loving Father,
Source of all wisdom,
help me to use my time
and my intelligence wisely
as I prepare for my exams.

Help me to dispose myself
to listen to Your Holy Spirit,
so that You, as my Loving Father,
may place me in a state of prayer
and lead me to understand
that the supreme wisdom
is knowing I am Your child.

Help me to remain serene
so that my work may truly reflect
this profound truth.

Mary, Mother of my spiritual life,
guide me in the ways of your Son,
so that my work may help
to transform this world for His glory.

Amen.

(Adapted from a prayer card distributed by the Newman Catholic Center
at Baruch College, New York City)