O ineffable Creator,
You, Who are called the true fountain of light and wisdom,
and the highest beginning,
pour upon the darkness of my understanding,
in which I was born,
the double beam of Your brightness,
removing from me all darkness of sin and ignorance.
You, Who make eloquent the tongue of the dumb,
instruct my tongue,
and pour on my lips the grace of Your blessing.
Give me quickness of understanding,
capacity of retaining,
subtlety of interpreting,
facility in learning,
and copious grace of speaking.
Guide my going in,
direct my going forward,
accomplish my going forth;
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Columbans are a society of missionaries, including priests and lay people, who minister to people of various cultures as a way of witnessing to the universal love of God.