A Knight of Saint Thomas's Prayer

[Sir Benedict]

Recently I was thinking about what we could do to cultivate the Order as a spiritual community, and I got the idea to write a short prayer specifically for the knights of Saint Thomas. If y'all like it, maybe we can make it official. Here it is:

Eternal Father, by whose might all weakness is overcome, by whose power all evil is vanquished, by whose hand all nature is governed, by whose grace all men are sustained, by whose word all lies are exposed, by whose mercy all sins are forgiven, by whose Son all humanity is saved, have mercy on me, a sinner. Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of Saint Thomas More, our Patron, and of all the Saints and Angels of Heaven, I ask you to bless me and the Equestrian Order of Saint Thomas as we embark on our holy mission. I beseech you, make our hearts pure that we may hear your voice, make our minds wise that we may choose what is righteous, and make our swords swift that we may do your bidding. I ask this in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

I'll start praying it every day, and y'all are welcome to do likewise.

[Paolo Emilio I of Trebia]

Translation to spanish:

Padre Eterno, que a través de tu poder es sobrepasada toda debilidad, por tu poder todo mal es aniquilado, por tu mano toda la naturaleza es gobernada, por tu gracia todos los hombres encuentran sustento, por tu palabra todas las mentiras son expuestas, por tu misericordia todos los pecados son perdonados, por tu Hijo se salva toda la Humanidad, ten misericordia de mí, un pecador. Por la intercesión de la Beata Virgen María, Madre de Dios, de Santo Tomás Moro, nuestro Patrono, y de todos los Santos y Ángeles del Cielo, te ruego que me bendigas a mí y a la Orden Equestre de Santo Tomás mientras nos embarcamos en nuestra Santa Misión. Te imploro, haz nuestros corazones puros para que escuchemos tu voz, haz nuestras mentes sabias de manera que elegimos lo que es justo, y haz afiladas nuestras espadas para que hagamos tu Voluntad. Ruego esto en el Nombre de tu Hijo Jesucristo, Amen

This way I may pray it myself. I expect Oscar of Ruthenia to translate the Prayer to Portuguese.

Besides, why don't we translate the Prayer in Latin so it can be prayed in the native languages and sung as a Gregorian chant in Latin?

[Sir Benedict]

Good idea, Paulus. Unfortunately, my Latin is pretty abysmal. Does anyone have the Latin skills to do that for us?

[Paolo Emilio I of Trebia]

I have a bit of Latin skills. I should try, but I don't have the time today.

[Pan Kristoff Drevo]

I like the prayer, Benedict! Very well written. Especially the part about swift swords.

[Paolo Emilio I of Trebia]

Heh! I finally managed to provide a decent translation of our Order's prayer to Latin!

Pater Æternum, qui per potentia tua omnes infirmitatis vincitus est, qui per potentia tua omnes malo annihilatus est, per manus tua omnes natura gubernata est, per gratia tua omnes hominus beatitudus inveniunt, per verbum tuum omnes falsitatus revelatus est, per Misericordia tua omnes vitis dimittis est, per Filium tuum omnes Humanitas salvata est, Miserere Mei, ego peccator est. Per intersectio Beata Virgo Maria, Mater Dei, Sancto Thomas Morus, Patronus nostrus, et omnes Sanctus et Angelus in Cælo, ego quæsumo, benedica me et Equestri Ordo Sancto Thomas Morus, sicut nos reciptunt in Sancta Missio nostra. Ego quæsumo, fac cordium nostrum pura, sicut nos audiamus voce tua, fac mentis nostra clara, sicut nos optamus bonum, et fac gladi noster acris, sicut nos facemus Voluntas tua. Oro in nomine Patris, Filius et Spiritui Sancto, Amen.

This translation took me 2 hours. It may not be perfect and I still need to check it. Heavy work indeed!

[Sir Benedict]

Thank you Paolo! It looks great.

[Paolo Emilio I of Trebia]

You're welcome! Any translation to the combination of the most beautiful and difficult language in the world, feel free to tell me!

Maybe if we arrange the translation this way...

Pater Æternum, qui per potentia tua omnes infirmitatis vincitus est,
Qui per potentia tua omnes malo annihilatus est,
Per manus tua omnes natura gubernata est.

Per gratia tua omnes hominus beatitudus inveniunt,
Per verbum tuum omnes falsitatus revelatus est.

Per Misericordia tua omnes vitis dimittis est,
Per Filium tuum omnes Humanitas salvata est,
Miserere Mei, ego peccator est.

Per intersectio Beata Virgo Maria, Mater Dei,
Sancto Thomas Morus, Patronus nostrus,
et omnes Sanctus et Angelus in Cælo,
ego quæsumo, benedica me et
Equestri Ordo Sancto Thomas Morus,
sicut nos reciptunt in Sancta Missio nostra.

Ego quæsumo, fac cordium nostrum pura,
sicut nos audiamus voce tua,
fac mentis nostra clara,
sicut nos optamus bonum,
et fac gladi noster acris,
sicut nos facemus Voluntas tua.

Oro in nomine Patris,
Filius et Spiritui Sancto, Amen.

...we get the structure for our Order's chant. We just need to compose the music.

[Pan Kristoff Drevo]

I'll volunteer! What style should it be done in?

[Paolo Emilio I of Trebia]

Any gentle music for a Gregorian Chant works. Make it as beautiful as possible.

For inspiration, I suggest you to take a look at my 5 favorite Gregorian Chants. Just to make clear, you aren't forced to listen to them all. You can do so if you need reference/inspiration:

SPOILER: Click to show

Chant of the Templars, Da Pacem Domine


Chant of the Templars, Salve Regina


Testamentum Eternum


Roman Catholic Chant, Crusades (Terra Tremuit) I picked up a version with epic movie scenes to help inspire you


Te Deum Laudamus

Good luck brother! May God and Saviour enlighten your ears and mind to compose the greatest music!

[Pan Kristoff Drevo]

Well, after a year and four months, I've finally gotten around to setting this prayer to music. Here is a link to the sheet music: docs.google.com/document/d/1xjfmndj_Mb1J0qSES3yw_Y6h53jV9XA4ZsW0R2sUUlg/edit?usp=sharing

If y'all hate it, I can take another crack at it. But I did stay up far later than I should have writing this all down, so I hope you appreciate at least a little.