image  Thomas Aquinas, uploaded by Polmars at French Wikipedia
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O creator past all telling, you have appointed

   from the treasures of your wisdom the hierarchies of angels,

   disposing them in wondrous order above the bright heavens,

   and have so beautifully set out all parts of the universe.

Be pleased to shed on the darkness of mind in which I was born,

   the twofold beam of your light and warmth

   to dispel my ignorance and sin.

You make eloquent the tongues of children.

Then instruct my speech and touch my lips with graciousness.

Make me keen to understand, quick to learn, able to remember;

   make me delicate to interpret and ready to speak.

Guide my going in and going forward, lead home my going forth.

You are true God and true man, and live forever and ever.

Thomas Aquinas, 1225 – 1274, Roman Catholic philosopher and theologian

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I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.