March 14, 2022
Compline
We are never alone. These daily prayers are another way for us to remain connected in our meaningful community. Scroll to the end of the page for a description of Daily Prayers.
An Order for Compline
The Lord grant us a peaceful night and a perfect end.
Amen
V. Our help is in the Name of the Lord;
R. The maker of heaven and earth.
Let us confess our sins to God.
Almighty God, our heavenly Father: We have sinned against you, through our own fault, in thought, and word, and deed, and in what we have left undone. For the sake of your Son our Lord Jesus Christ, forgive us all our offenses; and grant that we may serve you in newness of life, to the glory of your Name. Amen.
May the Almighty God grant us forgiveness of all our sins, and the grace and comfort of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
V: O God, make speed to save us.
R: O Lord, make haste to help us.
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.
Psalms
Psalm 4 Cum invocarem1 Answer me when I call, O God, defender of my cause; *
you set me free when I am hard-pressed; have mercy on me and hear my prayer.
2 You mortals, how long will you dishonor my glory; *
how long will you worship dumb idols and run after false gods?
3 Know that the LORD does wonders for the faithful; *
when I call upon the LORD, he will hear me.
4 Tremble, then, and do not sin; *
speak to your heart in silence upon your bed.
5 Offer the appointed sacrifices *
and put your trust in the LORD.
6 Many are saying, “Oh, that we might see better times!” *
Lift up the light of your countenance upon us, O LORD.
7 You have put gladness in my heart, *
more than when grain and wine and oil increase.
8 I lie down in peace; at once I fall asleep; *
for only you, LORD, make me dwell in safety.
Psalm 91 Qui habitat1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, *
abides under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 He shall say to the LORD, “You are my refuge and my stronghold, *
my God in whom I put my trust.”
3 He shall deliver you from the snare of the hunter *
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He shall cover you with his pinions, and you shall find refuge under his wings; *
his faithfulness shall be a shield and buckler.
5 You shall not be afraid of any terror by night, *
nor of the arrow that flies by day;
6 Of the plague that stalks in the darkness, *
nor of the sickness that lays waste at mid-day.
7 A thousand shall fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, *
but it shall not come near you.
8 Your eyes have only to behold *
to see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because you have made the LORD your refuge, *
and the Most High your habitation,
10 There shall no evil happen to you, *
neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over you, *
to keep you in all your ways.
12 They shall bear you in their hands, *
lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13 You shall tread upon the lion and the adder; *
you shall trample the young lion and the serpent under your feet.
14 Because he is bound to me in love, therefore will I deliver him; *
I will protect him, because he knows my Name.
15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; *
I am with him in trouble; I will rescue him and bring him to honor.
16 With long life will I satisfy him, *
and show him my salvation.
Psalm 134 Ecce nunc1 Behold now, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, *
you that stand by night in the house of the LORD.
2 Lift up your hands in the holy place and bless the LORD; *
the LORD who made heaven and earth bless you out of Zion.
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.
Chapter
Little Chapter
Lord, you are in the midst of us, and we are called by your Name: Do not forsake us, O Lord our God. Jeremiah 14:9,22
R: Thanks be to God.
The Prayers
V: Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit
R: For you have redeemed me, O Lord, O God of truth.
V: Keep us, O Lord, as the apple of your eye;
R: Hide us under the shadow of your wings.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil.
V: Lord, hear our prayer;
R: And let our cry come to you.
Let us pray.
Be present, O merciful God, and protect us through the hours of this night, so that we who are wearied by the changes and chances of this life may rest in your eternal changelessness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
O God, your unfailing providence sustains the world we live in and the life we live: Watch over those, both night and day, who work while others sleep, and grant that we may never forget that our common life depends upon each other’s toil; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Silence, free intercessions, and thanksgivings may be offered.
Antiphon: Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.
The Song of Simeon Nunc Dimittis
Luke 2:29-32
Lord, you now have set your servant free *
to go in peace as you have promised;
For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, *
whom you have prepared for all the world to see:
A Light to enlighten 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. Amen.
Antiphon: Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.
V: Let us bless the Lord.
R: Thanks be to God.
The almighty and merciful Lord, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless us and keep us. Amen.
What are the Daily Prayers?
Also called the Liturgy of the Hours, the Divine Office, or the Work of God (Opus Dei), Daily Prayers have been a part of community and public prayer life from the times of the earliest Christians. Today, thousands of Christians from many denominations around the world pray some version of these shared prayers together. Typically, morning prayer is used in hours near or just after sunrise. Mid-day prayer is offered around noon or “lunchtime.” Evening prayer, or “vespers,” is appropriate for the time around sunset, before it is completely dark. Night prayer, or “compline” may be used after dark or as the final communal act of prayer before going to sleep for the night.
These services, following an ancient pattern of congregational prayer, focus upon the praise of God, thanksgiving, and prayer for God’s creation rather than the proclaiming of the Word. Therefore, preaching and other devotional talks are not a part of these services.
Each order reflects a simple yet flexible pattern. The openings, hymns, songs of praise, responses to prayers, and Lord’s Prayer may all be spoken or sung, with or without accompaniment. Scripture and Silence are optional. These prayers are great to be used in any setting in which you find yourself. You don’t need anything at all in order to pray, but you can keep things around you (like a candle or a cross) that remind you of God when you pray.
