Compline or Night Prayer

[jbmccormick]

NIGHT PRAYER


Make sign of the cross during this opening verse.



God, come to my assistance.

-- Lord, make haste to help me.



Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

As it was in the beginning, is now and will be for ever.

Amen. Alleluia.



A brief examination of conscience may be made. In the communal celebration of the office, a penitential rite using the formulas of the Mass may be inserted here. [I offer the following acts of contrition, which are perfectly appropriate for private recital of this prayer.]



My God,

I am sorry for my sins with all my heart.

In choosing to do wrong

And failing to do good,

I have sinned against you

Whom I should love above all things.

I firmly intend, with your help,

To do penance,

To sin no more,

And to avoid whatever leads me to sin.

Our Savior Jesus Christ

Suffered and died for us.

In his name, my God, have mercy.



OR:



Wash me from my guilt

And cleanse me from my sin.

I acknowledge my offense;

My sin is before me always. (Psalm 50:4-5)



HYMN


We praise you, Father, for your gifts

Of dusk and nightfall over earth,

Foreshadowing the mystery

Of death that leads to endless day.



Within your hands we rest secure;

In quiet sleep our strength renew;

Yet give your people hearts that wake

In love to you, unsleeping Lord.



Your glory may we ever seek

In rest, as in activity,

Until its fullness is revealed,

O source of life, O Trinity.



OR:



Holy God, we praise thy Name!

Lord of all, we bow before thee!

All on earth thy scepter claim,

All in heaven above adore thee!

Infinite thy vast domain,

Everlasting is thy reign.



Hark the loud celestial hymn

Angel choirs above are raising;

Cherubim and Seraphim,

In unceasing chorus praising,

Fill the heavens with sweet accord:

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord!



Holy Father, Holy Son,

Holy Spirit, Three we name thee,

While in essence only One,

Undivided God we claim thee;

And adoring bend the knee,

While we own the mystery.



PSALMODY


Ant. Night holds no terrors for me sleeping under God’s wings.



Psalm 91

Safe in God’s sheltering care

I have given you the power to tread upon serpents and scorpions (Luke 10:19).



He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

And abides in the shade of the Almighty

Says to the Lord: “My refuge,

My stronghold, my God in whom I trust!”



It is he who will free you from the snare

Of the fowler who seeks to destroy you;

He will conceal you with his pinions

And under his wings you will find refuge.



You will not fear the terror of the night

Nor the arrow that flies by day,

Nor the plague that prowls in the darkness

Nor the scourge that lays waste at noon.



A thousand may fall at your side,

Ten thousand fall at your right,

You, it will never approach;

His faithfulness is buckler and shield.



Your eyes have only to look

to see how the wicked are repaid,

You who have said: “Lord, my refuge!”

And have made the Most High your dwelling.



Upon you no evil shall fall,

No plague approach where you dwell.

For you has he commanded his angels,

To keep you in all your ways.



They shall bear you upon their hands

Lest you strike your foot against a stone.

On the lion and the viper you will tread

And trample the young lion and the dragon.



Since he clings to me in love, I will free him;

Protect him for he knows my name.

When he calls I shall answer: “I am with you.”

I will save him in distress and give him glory.



With length of life I will content him;

I shall let him see my saving power.



Ant. Night holds no terrors for me sleeping under God’s wings.



READING Revelation 22:4-5



They shall see the Lord face to face and bear his name on their foreheads. The night shall be no more. They will need no light from lamps or the sun, for the Lord God shall give them light, and they shall reign forever.



RESPONSORY


Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.

-- Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.



You have redeemed us, Lord God of Truth.

-- I commend my spirit.



Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit

-- Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.



Ant. Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake; watch over us as we sleep, that awake, we may keep watch with Christ, and asleep rest in his peace.



GOSPEL CANTICLE Luke 2:29-32
Christ is the light of the nations and the glory of Israel



Lord, now you let your servant go in peace;

Your word has been fulfilled:

My own eyes have seen the salvation

Which you have prepared in the sight of every people:

A light to reveal you to the nations

And the glory of your people Israel



Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

As it was in the beginning, is now and will be for ever.



Ant. Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake; watch over us as we sleep, that awake, we may keep watch with Christ, and asleep rest in his peace.



PRAYER


Lord,

We have celebrated today

The mystery of the rising of Christ to new life.

May we now rest in your peace,

Safe from all that could harm us,

And rise again refreshed and joyful,

To praise you throughout another day.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.



Or: on solemnities that do not occur on Sunday:



Lord,

We beg you to visit this house

And banish from it

All the deadly power of the enemy.

May your holy angels dwell here

To keep us in peace,

And may your blessing be upon us always

We ask this through Christ our Lord.



CONCLUSION
Make the sign of the cross during conclusion.



May the all-powerful Lord grant us a restful night and a peaceful death.

-- Amen



Antiphon in Honor of the Blessed Virgin


Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy,

Our life, our sweetness, and our hope.

To you do we cry,

Poor banished children of Eve.

To you do we send up our sighs,

Mourning and weeping in this vale of tears.

Turn then, most gracious advocate,

Your eyes of mercy toward us,

And after this exile

Show to us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus.

O clement, O loving,

O sweet Virgin Mary.

[Rosebud]

JBM, you are one of His angels...thank you

[Budwoman]

JBM

THANK YOU FOR THIS.... IT REALLY IS GREAT


DONNA

[RandomActs]

Are you a regular Liturgy of the Hours prayer? You have made a beautiful selection here.

[jbmccormick]

I wish I was a regularly prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours. I have at times, but havn't been too regular at anything lately. I do have the whole set, however.

There didn't seem to be a tremendous amount of interest here in this, otherwise I would have considered copying another selection like from the Morning or Evening prayers (Laudes / Vespers). There is also a slight "error" here because I missed a "Glory Be" here but that's ok.

I have it really nicely formatted in Word, but I lost all formatting here and it ends up kind of running all together. I have told anybody who wants it "clean" should just ask and I will send it.

Peace,

Jim