Compline (Night Prayer)

Introduction
O God, come to my aid. O Lord, make haste to help me. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Alleluia.

This is an excellent moment for an examination of conscience. In a communal celebration of Compline, one of the penitential acts given in the Missal may be recited.

Hymn
Now that the daylight dies away, By all thy grace and love, Thee, Maker of the world, we pray To watch our bed above. Let dreams depart and phantoms fly, The offspring of the night, Keep us, like shrines, beneath thine eye, Pure in our foe’s despite. This grace on thy redeemed confer, Father, co-equal Son, And Holy Ghost, the Comforter, Eternal Three in One.

Psalm 4 Thanksgiving
Take pity on me, Lord, and listen to my prayer. When I called out, he heard me, the God of my righteousness. When I was in trouble, you gave me freedom: now, take pity on me and listen to my prayer. Sons of men, how long will your hearts be heavy? Why do you seek for vain things? Why do you run after illusions? Know that the Lord has done marvellous things for those he has chosen. When I call upon the Lord, he will hear me. Be vigorous, but do not sin: speak in the silence of your heart, in your bed, be at rest. Offer righteousness as a sacrifice, and put your trust in the Lord. Many are saying, Who will give us good things? Let your face shine on us, Lord, let the light of your face be a sign. You have given me a greater joy than the others receive from abundance of wheat and of wine. In peace shall I sleep, Lord, in peace shall I rest: firm in the hope you have given me. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Take pity on me, Lord, and listen to my prayer.

Psalm 4
Thanksgiving

Take pity on me, Lord, and listen to my prayer.

When I called out, he heard me, the God of my righteousness.

When I was in trouble, you gave me freedom:

now, take pity on me and listen to my prayer.

Sons of men, how long will your hearts be heavy?

Why do you seek for vain things?

Why do you run after illusions?

Know that the Lord has done marvellous things

for those he has chosen.

When I call upon the Lord, he will hear me.

Be vigorous, but do not sin:

speak in the silence of your heart,

in your bed, be at rest.

Offer righteousness as a sacrifice,

and put your trust in the Lord.

Many are saying, Who will give us good things?

Let your face shine on us, Lord,

let the light of your face be a sign.

You have given me a greater joy

than the others receive

from abundance of wheat and of wine.

In peace shall I sleep, Lord, in peace shall I rest:

firm in the hope you have given me.

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

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

Take pity on me, Lord, and listen to my prayer.

Psalm 133 (134) Evening prayer in the Temple
Bless the Lord through the night. Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord who stand through the night in the house of the Lord! Lift up your arms to the sanctuary and bless the Lord! May the Lord bless you from Zion – the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Bless the Lord through the night.

Psalm 133 (134)
Evening prayer in the Temple

Bless the Lord through the night.

Come, bless the Lord,

all you servants of the Lord

who stand through the night in the house of the Lord!

Lift up your arms to the sanctuary

and bless the Lord!

May the Lord bless you from Zion –

the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

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

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

Bless the Lord through the night.

Reading	Deuteronomy 6:4-7 ©
Listen, Israel: the Lord our God is the one Lord. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength. Let these words I urge on you today be written on your heart. You shall repeat them to your children and say them over to them whether at rest in your house or walking abroad, at your lying down or at your rising.

Short Responsory
Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. – Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. You have redeemed us, Lord, God of faithfulness. – Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. – Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.

Canticle	Nunc Dimittis
Keep us safe, Lord, while we are awake, and guard us as we sleep, so that we can keep watch with Christ and rest in peace. Now, Master, you let your servant go in peace. You have fulfilled your promise. My own eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all peoples. A light to bring the Gentiles from darkness; the glory of your people Israel. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Keep us safe, Lord, while we are awake, and guard us as we sleep, so that we can keep watch with Christ and rest in peace.

Canticle

Nunc Dimittis

Keep us safe, Lord, while we are awake, and guard us as we sleep, so that we can keep watch with Christ and rest in peace.

Now, Master, you let your servant go in peace.

You have fulfilled your promise.

My own eyes have seen your salvation,

which you have prepared in the sight of all peoples.

A light to bring the Gentiles from darkness;

the glory of your people Israel.

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

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

Keep us safe, Lord, while we are awake, and guard us as we sleep, so that we can keep watch with Christ and rest in peace.

Let us pray.

Come to us, Lord, this night, and give us the strength to rise at dawn rejoicing in the resurrection of your Anointed, who lives and reigns for ever and ever, Amen.

May the almighty Lord grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.

A M E N

	Salve Regina
Hail to you, O Queen, mother of loving kindness, our life, our happiness, our hope. Hear us cry out to you, children of Eve in our exile. Hear as we sigh, with groaning and weeping in this life, this valley of tears. Come then, our Advocate, turn towards us the gaze of your kind and loving eyes. And show us Jesus, the blessed fruit of your womb, when at last our exile here is ended.

Salve Regina

Hail to you, O Queen, mother of loving kindness,

our life, our happiness, our hope.

Hear us cry out to you,

children of Eve in our exile.

Hear as we sigh, with groaning and weeping

in this life, this valley of tears.

Come then, our Advocate, turn towards us

the gaze of your kind and loving eyes.

And show us Jesus, the blessed fruit of your womb,

when at last our exile here is ended.

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