Wednesday, March 07, 2012

March 7th: Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas, O.P. (Pre-Conciliar Calendar)

One of the (very few and far between) advantages of having two calendars in the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church is that, occasionally, one gets to honor a favorite saint twice in one year.  Such is the case with my friend and illustrious brother in St. Dominic, Thomas Aquinas.  It seems fitting to be able thus to honor the Angelical, and to beg his intercession at a time when vile assaults are being launched against the Eucharist, to which he was so touchingly devoted.  

Here again, and none the worse for having been posted before, is the Litany of St. Thomas of Aquin, published in 1913 in The Dominican Manual: A Selection of Prayers and Devotions.

O THOU, the Most High, have mercy on us.
Mighty One of Jacob, have mercy on us.
Divine Spirit, have mercy on us.
Great Triune God, have mercy on us.

Glorious Mother of the King of kings, pray for us.
Saint Thomas of Aquin, pray for us.
Worthy child of the Queen of Virgins...
Aquinas most chaste...
Aquinas most patient...
Prodigy of science...
Silently eloquent...
Reproach of the ambitious...
Lover of that life which is hidden with Christ in God...
Fragrant flower in the parterre of St. Dominic...
Glory of Friars Preachers...
Illlumined from on high...
Angel of the Schools...
Oracle of the Church...
Incomparable scribe of the Man-God...
Satiated with the odour 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...

Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world: grant us peace.

Ant.— Oh, how beautiful is the chaste generation with glory, for the memory thereof is immortal, because it is known with God and man, and it triumpheth crowned for ever.
V. Oh! what have I in heaven, or what do I desire on earth?
R. Thou art the God of my heart, and my portion for ever.

Prayer:

O God, who hast ordained that blessed Thomas should enlighten Thy Church, grant that through his prayers we may practise what he taught, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

3 comments:

  1. For anyone interested: read or reread G. K. Chesterton's book on St. Thomas, which (I believe) Etienne Gilson called "beyond possible comparison" the best book on him.

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  2. What think you of Mark Levin's criticism of St. Thomas' "Utopia" in his book "Ameritopia"?

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  3. Thanks, Bob! I am currently reading Chesterton's book myself, and I also recommend it.

    Paul, unfortunately, I haven't gotten to Ameritopia yet. My reading list just keeps growing. (Aquinas wasn't the St. Thomas who wrote Utopia, though...)

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