Prayer Before Study, St. Thomas Aquinas

Creator ineffabilis, qui de thesauris sapentiae tuae tres Angelorum hierarchias designasti et eas super caelum empyreum miro ordine collocasti atque universi partes elegantissime distribuisti: Tu, inquam, qui verus fons luminis et spaientiae diceris ac supereminens principium, infundere digneris super intellectus mei tenebras tuae radium claritatis, duplices, in quibus natus sum, a me removens tenebras, peccatum scilicet et ignorantiam. Tu, qui linguas infantium facis disertas, linguam meam erudias atque in labiis meis gratiam tuae benedictionis infundas. Da mihi intelligendi acumen, retinendi capacitatem, addiscendi modum et instruas, progressum dirigas, egressum compleas. Tu, qui es verus Deus et homo, qui vivis et regnas in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

C. S. Lewis’s translation

Creator inexpressible who from the treasures of thy wisdom hast into perfect fitness ordered the parts of the universe: thou (I say) who art called the true fountain of light and wisdom and the transcendently-exalted Beginning: deign to pour the two fold beams of thy brightness over the darknesses of my understanding, removing the darknesses to which I was born, to wit, sin and ignorance. Thou who dost make the tongues of babes to be eloquent, teach my tongue and infuse in my lips the grace of thy blessing. Give me the sharpness to understand, the capacity to retain, the subtlety to explain, the facility to learn, and the plentiful grace of expression. Order my first steps, guide my progress, consummate my conclusion.

(The above two paragraphs are taken from The Collected Letters of C. S. Lewis, edited by Walter Hooper, Volume III, page 950.)

Translation from a prayer card found by a friend in a catholic bookstore.

Creator of all things, true source of Light and Wisdom, lofty source 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, 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, help in the completion. THROUGH CHRIST, OUR LORD. Amen.