Novena to St. Thomas Aquinas Day 7 March 4 St. Thomas, Defender of the Church.
Novena to St. Thomas Aquinas Day 7 March 4 St. Thomas, Defender of the Church.
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V. In the Name of the Father
R. Amen.
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V. “These things I write to thee ... that thou mayest know
how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God,
R. Which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth”
(1 Tim 3:14...15)
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V. Saint Thomas Aquinas,
R. From thy youth, thou didst learn to love the Church, thy spiritual home. * In thy teaching, thou didst seek to explain and defend the doctrine of Holy Mother Church. * Thou didst understand that true wisdom means to let oneself be instructed by the Church, * for Our Lord guaranteed that the Holy Ghost would always guide the Church, infallible and indefectible, leading it to all Truth. * At the end of thy life, thou saidest, * “I have taught and written much .... according to my faith in Christ and in the holy Roman Church, to whose judgment I submit all my teaching.” * Intercede for the Body of Christ today. * That it may grow stronger and fruitful in the world. * That her faith may be restored. * That all her pastors, theologians and catechists may have thy same spirit of submission to her teaching. * Raise up holy priests, that they may all be salt of the earth and light of the world. * Bless the Pope in his efforts to guide the Church. * Pray for missionaries as they work to baptize all nations, teaching them all Christ commanded. * And may the Spouse of Christ be restored by the power of the Holy Ghost.
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V. Saint Thomas Aquinas,
R. Patron of Catholic universities, schools and students, * I thank God for the gifts of light and knowledge He bestowed on thee, * which thou didst use to build up the Church in love. * I thank God, too, for the wealth and richness of theological teachings thou didst leave in thy writings. * Not only wast thou a great teacher, thou moreso didst live a life of virtue, and madest holiness the desire of thy heart. * If I cannot imitate thee in the brilliance of thy learned knowledge, * aid me to follow thee in the humility and charity which marked thy life. * As St. Paul taught, charity is the greatest gift, and it is open to all. * Pray for me, I beg thee, that I might grow in holiness and charity * and in particular, I implore thee to obtain the favors I ask during this novena,
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Requests
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V. Assist us, O Lord, we beseech Thee, through the merits of St. Thomas Aquinas.
R. That what our endeavors cannot obtain may be given us by his intercession. Amen.
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Litany of St. Thomas Aquinas:
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Lord, have mercy on us,
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us,
Christ hear us.
Christ graciously hear us.
God the Father of heaven,
have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world
have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost,
have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God,
have mercy on us.
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Holy Mary, * Pray for us.
Glorious Mother of the King of kings,*
Saint Thomas of Aquinas,*
Worthy child of the Queen of virgins,*
St. Thomas most chaste,*
St. Thomas most patient,*
Prodigy of science,*
Silently eloquent,*
Reproach of the ambitious,*
Lover of that life which is hidden with
Christ,*
Fragrant flower in the garden of Saint
Dominic,*
Glory of the Friars Preachers,*
Illumined from on high,*
Angel of the Schools,*
Oracle of the Church,*
Incomparable scribe of the Man-God,*
Satiated with the odor of His perfumes,*
Perfect in the school of His Cross,*
Intoxicated with the strong wine of His
charity,*
Glittering gem in the cabinet of the Lord,*
Model of perfect obedience,*
Endowed with the true spirit of holy
poverty,*
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Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
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O, how beautiful is the chaste generation with glory, For the memory thereof is immortal. Because it is known with God and man, And it triumphs crowned forever. What have I in Heaven, or what do I desire on earth! Thou art the God of my heart, and my portion forever.
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Let us pray.
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O God, through Whom Thy Church is glorified by the wonderful learning of Thy blessed Confessor Thomas and profiteth still from his holy labors: grant, we pray, that we may grasp his teaching with our minds and show it, as he did, in our lives. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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V. In the Name of the Father...
R. Amen.