PRAYER FOR THIS MORNING (THURSDAY, JANUARY 28)
Saint Thomas Aquinas
Prayer for the Morning
God’s works are justice and truth:
let us sing his praises!
Glory to the Father…. Alleluia!
Hymn
Let all the faithful multitude
With joy of soul exult in praise:
The clouds of error melt, subdued
By this new sun’s compelling rays.
As this world’s evening time drew nigh,
From Thomas floods of graces came;
For he abounded from on high
With wisdom and with virtue’s fame.
All brilliant from his teaching’s light,
For chastity of life renowned,
With miracles resplendent, bright;
From him the whole world joy has found.
The depths of Wisdom’s sea profound
He searched, and treasures rich revealed:
While rapt above all human bound,
Made known and clear things long concealed.
Psalm 111
With him are wisdom and might;/ his are counsel and understanding. (Jb 12:13)
Wisdom is more than knowledge. Saint Thomas knew and understood a great deal; he had the gift of wisdom, born of loving prayer, to use what he knew for the service of his God and neighbor, feeding the hungry of spirit with the bread of truth.
I will thank the Lord with all my heart
in the meeting of the just and their assembly.
Great are the works of the Lord;
to be pondered by all who love them.
Majestic and glorious his work,
his justice stands firm for ever.
He makes us remember his wonders.
The Lord is compassion and love.
He gives food to those who fear him;
keeps his covenant ever in mind.
He has shown his might to his people
by giving them the lands of the nations.
His works are justice and truth:
his precepts are all of them sure,
standing firm for ever and ever:
they are made in uprightness and truth.
He has sent deliverance to his people
and established his covenant for ever.
Holy his name, to be feared.
To fear the Lord is the first stage of wisdom;
all who do so prove themselves wise.
His praise shall last for ever!
Glory to the Father….
Word of God (Proverbs 2:6-11)
The Lord gives wisdom,/ from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;/ He has counsel in store for the upright,/ he is the shield of those who walk honestly,/ Guarding the paths of justice,/ protecting the way of his pious ones.
Then you will understand rectitude and justice,/ honesty, every good path;/ For wisdom will enter your heart,/ knowledge will please your soul,/ Discretion will watch over you,/ understanding will guard you.
The beginning of wisdom is: get wisdom;/
at the cost of all you have, get understanding.
(Prv 4:7)
Canticle of Zechariah
Say to Wisdom, “You are my sister!”/ call Understanding, “Friend!” (Prv 7:4)
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
he has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty savior,
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his holy prophets he promised of old
that he would save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
You, my child, shall be called the prophet
of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
to give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness
and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Glory to the Father…
Intercessions
Through the intercession of Saint Thomas Aquinas, let us pray for the gifts of wisdom and understanding given through the Spirit of God:
R/Pour forth your light upon us, O God!
For the Church,
– that we may be the servants of wisdom and truth: R/
For all who seek understanding,
– that they may find Christ, who is the Truth: R/
For those who study and teach theology,
– that they may be guided by the Spirit of truth: R/
(Personal intentions)
Our Father….
O God of light and truth, you sent Saint Thomas Aquinas to learn wisdom through prayer and study. Through his intercession and example, illumine all your Church with the knowledge of you that comes through love made humble in the presence of your mystery. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
