This Office, which concludes the day, commences by a warning of the dangers of the night: then immediately follows the public Confession of our sins, as a powerful means of propitiating the divine justice, and obtaining God’s help, now that we are going to spend so many hours in the unconscious and therefore dangerous state of sleep, which is also such an image of death.
The Lector, addressing the Priest, says to him:
Pray, Father, give thy blessing.
℣. Jube, Domine, benedicere.
The Priest answers:
May the Almighty Lord grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.
Noctem quietam, et finem perfectum concedat nobis Dominus omnipotens.
℟. Amen.
℟. Amen.
The Lector then reads these words, from the first Epistle of St. Peter:
Brethren, be sober and watch: for your adversary the devil goes about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour: resist him, being strong in faith. But thou, O Lord, have mercy on us.
Fratres: Sobrii estote, et vigilate: quia adversarius vester diabolus, tamquam leo rugiens circuit quærens quem devoret: cui resistite fortes in fide. Tu autem, Domine, miserere nobis.
The Choir answers:
℟. Thanks be to God.
℟. Deo gratias.
Then, the Priest:
℣. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
℣. Adjutorium nostrum in nomine Domini.
The Choir:
℟. Who hath made heaven and earth.
℟. Qui fecit cœlum et terram.
Then the Lord’s Prayer is recited in secret; after which the Priest says the Confiteor; and, when he has finished, the Choir says:
May Almighty God be merciful to thee, and, forgiving thy sins, bring thee to everlasting life.
Misereatur tui omnipotens Deus, et dimissis peccatis tuis, perducat te ad vitam æternam.
The Priest having answered Amen, the Choir repeats the Confiteor, thus:
I confess to Almighty God, to Blessed Mary ever Virgin, to blessed Michael the Archangel, to blessed John Baptist, to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, to all the saints, and to thee, Father, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, and deed, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault. Therefore I beseech the Blessed Mary ever Virgin, blessed Michael the Archangel, blessed John Baptist, the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and all the saints, and thee, Father, to pray to our Lord God for me.
Confiteor Deo Omnipotenti, beatæ Mariæ semper Virgini, beato Michaeli Archangelo, beato Joanni Baptistæ, sanctis Apostolis Petro et Paulo, omnibus sanctis, et tibi Pater: quia peccavi nimis, cogitatione, verbo, et opere: mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa. Ideo precor beatam Mariam semper Virginem, beatum Michaelem Archangelum, beatum Joannem Baptistam, sanctos Apostolos Petrum et Paulum, omnes sanctos, et te, Pater, orare pro me ad Dominum Deum nostrum.
The Priest then says:
May Almighty God be merciful to you, and, forgiving your sins, bring you to everlasting life.
Misereatur vestri omnipotens Deus, et dimissis peccatis vestris, perducat vos ad vitam æternam.
℟. Amen.
℟. Amen.
May the Almighty and merciful Lord grant us pardon, absolution, and remission of our sins.
Indulgentiam, absolutionem, et remissionem peccatorum nostrorum, tribuat nobis omnipotens et misericors Dominus.
℟. Amen.
℟. Amen.
℣. Convert us, O God, our Savior.
℣. Converte nos, Deus, Salutaris noster.
℟. And turn away thy anger from us.
℟. Et averte iram tuam a nobis.
℣. Incline unto my aid, O God.
℣. Deus, in adjutorium meum intende.
℟. O Lord, make haste to help me.
℟. Domine, ad adjuvandum me festina.
Glory, &c.
Gloria Patri, &c.
Ant. Have mercy.
Ant. Miserere.
The first Psalm expresses the confidence with which the just man sleeps in peace; but the wicked know not what calm rest is. It also speaks of the eternal Word, the Light of the Father, who is come to dispel our darkness.
Psalm 4
When I called upon him, the God of my justice heard me: when I was in distress, thou hast enlarged me.
Cum invocarem exaudivit me Deus justitiæ meæ: * in tribulatione dilatasti mihi.
Have mercy on me: and hear my prayer.
Miserere mei: * et exaudi orationem meam.
O ye sons of men, how long will you be dull of heart? why do you love vanity, and seek after lying?
Filii hominum, usquequo gravi corde? * ut quid diligitis vanitatem, et quæritis mendacium?
Know ye also that the Lord hath made his Holy One wonderful: the Lord will hear me, when I shall cry unto him.
Et scitote quoniam mirificavit Dominus sanctum suum: * Dominus exaudiet me, cum clamavero ad eum.
Be ye angry, and sin not: the things you say in your hearts, be sorry for them upon your beds.
Irascimini, et nolite peccare: * quæ dicitis in cordibus vestris, in cubilibus vestris compungimini.
Offer up the sacrifice of justice, and trust in the Lord: many say, who showeth us good things?
Sacrificate sacrificium justitiæ, et sperate in Domino: * multi dicunt: Quis ostendit nobis bona?
The Light of thy countenance, O Lord, is signed upon us: thou hast given gladness in my heart.
Signatum est super nos lumen vultus tui Domine: * dedisti lætitiam in corde meo.
By the fruit of their corn, their wine, and oil, they are multiplied.
A fructu frumenti, vini et olei sui: * multiplicati sunt.
In peace, in the self same, I will sleep, and I will rest.
In pace in idipsum: * dormiam et requiescam.
For thou, O Lord, singularly hast settled me in hope.
Quoniam tu, Domine, singulariter in spe: * constituisti me.
The Church has introduced here the first six Verses of the thirtieth Psalm, because they contain the prayer which our Savior made when dying: Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit! words so beautifully appropriate in this Office of the close of day.
Psalm 30
In thee, O Lord, have I hoped, let me never be confounded: deliver me in thy justice.
In te, Domine, speravi, non confundar in æternum: * in justitia tua libera me.
Bow down thy ear to me: make haste to deliver me.
Inclina ad me aurem tuam: * accelera ut eruas me.
Be thou unto me a God, a protector, and a house of refuge, to save me.
Esto mihi in Deum protectorem, et in domum refugii: * ut salvum me facias.
For thou art my strength, and my refuge: and for thy name’s sake thou wilt lead me, and nourish me.
Quoniam fortitudo mea, et refugium meum es tu: * et propter nomen tuum deduces me, et enutries me.
Thou wilt bring me out of this snare, which they have hidden for me: for thou art my protector.
Educes me de laqueo hoc, quem absconderunt mihi: * quoniam tu es protector meus.
Into thy hands I commend my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, the God of truth.
In manus tuas commendo spiritum meum: * redemisti me, Domine, Deus veritatis.
The third Psalm gives the motives of the just man’s confidence, even during the dangers of the night. Then, we have God himself speaking, and promising to show us our Savior.
Psalm 90
He that dwelleth in the aid of the Most High, shall abide under the protection of the God of heaven.
Qui habitat in adjutorio Altissimi: * in protectione Dei cœli commorabitur.
He shall say to the Lord: Thou art my protector, and my refuge: my God, in him will I trust.
Dicet Domino: Susceptor meus es tu, et refugium meum, * Deus meus, sperabo in eum.
For he hath delivered me from the snare of the hunters: and from the sharp word.
Quoniam ipse liberavit me de laqueo venantium: * et a verbo aspero.
He will overshadow thee with his shoulders: and under his wings thou shalt trust.
Scapulis suis obumbrabit tibi: * et sub pennis ejus sperabis.
His truth shall compass thee with a shield: thou shalt not be afraid of the terror of the night.
Scuto circumdabit te veritas ejus: * non timebis a timore nocturno.
Of the arrow that flieth in the day: of the business that walketh about in the dark: of invasion, or of the noonday devil.
A sagitta volante in die, a negotio perambulante in tenebris: * ab incursu, et dæmonio meridiano.
A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand: but it shall not come nigh thee.
Cadent a latere tuo mille, et decem millia a dextris tuis: * ad te autem non appropinquabit.
But thou shalt consider with thy eyes: and shalt see the reward of the wicked.
Verumtamen oculis tuis considerabis: * et retributionem peccatorum videbis.
Because thou hast said: Thou, O Lord, art my hope: Thou hast made the Most High thy refuge.
Quoniam tu es, Domine, spes mea: * Altissimum posuisti refugium tuum.
There shall no evil come to thee, nor shall the scourge come near thy dwelling.
Non accedet ad te malum: * et flagellum non appropinquabit tabernaculo tuo.
For he hath given his Angels charge over thee: to keep thee in all thy ways.
Quoniam Angelis suis mandavit de te: * ut custodiant te in omnibus viis tuis.
In their hands they shall bear thee up: lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
In manibus portabunt te: * ne forte offendas ad lapidem pedem tuum.
Thou shalt walk upon the asp and basilisk: and thou shalt trample under foot the lion and the dragon.
Super aspidem et basiliscum ambulabis: * et conculcabis leonem et draconem.
God will say of thee: Because he hoped in me, I will deliver him: I will protect him, because he hath known my name.
Quoniam in me speravit, liberabo eum: * protegam eum, quoniam cognovit nomen meum.
He will cry to me, and I will hear him: I am with him in tribulation, I will deliver him, and I will glorify him.
Clamabit ad me, et ego exaudiam eum: * cum ipso sum in tribulatione, eripiam eum et glorificabo eum.
I will fill him with length of days: and I will show him my salvation.
Longitudine dierum replebo eum: * et ostendam illi Salutare meum.
The fourth Psalm invites the Servants of God to persevere, with fervor, in the prayers they offer during the Night. The Faithful should say this Psalm in a spirit of gratitude to God, for his raising up, in the Church, adorers of his holy name, whose grand vocation is to lift up their hands, day and night, for the safety of Israel. On such prayers, depend the happiness and destinies of the world.
Psalm 133
Behold now bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord.
Ecce nunc benedicite Dominum: * omnes servi Domini.
Who stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God.
Qui statis in domo Domini: * in atriis domus Dei nostri.
In the nights lift up your hands to the holy places, and bless ye the Lord.
In noctibus extollite manus vestras in sancta: * et benedicite Dominum.
Say to Israel: May the Lord out of Sion bless thee, he that made heaven and earth.
Benedicat te Dominus ex Sion: * qui fecit cœlum et terram.
Ant. Have mercy on me, O Lord, and hear my prayer.
Ant. Miserere mei, Domine, et exaudi orationem meam.
Hymn1
Before the closing of the light, we beseech thee, Creator of all things! that, in thy clemency, thou be our protector and our guard.
Rerum Creator, poscimus,
Ut pro tua clementia
Sis præsul et custodia.
May the dreams and phantoms of night depart far from us; and do thou repress our enemy, lest our bodies be profaned.
Et noctium phantasmata;
Hostemque nostrum comprime,
Ne polluantur corpora.
Most merciful Father! and thou, his Only Begotten Son, co-equal with him! reigning for ever with the Holy Paraclete! grant this our prayer. Amen.
Patrique compar Unice,
Cum Spiritu Paraclito
Regnans per omne sæculum.
Amen.
(*This last Stanza is varied for Christmas Day, &c., and for the Epiphany. See above.)
Capitulum
(Jeremias 14)
But thou art in us, O Lord, and thy holy name has been invoked upon us: forsake us not, O Lord our God.
Tu autem in nobis es, Domine, et nomen sanctum tuum invocatum est super nos; ne derelinquas nos, Domine Deus noster.
℟. Into thy hands, O Lord: * I commend my spirit. Into thy hands.
℟. In manus tuas, Domine: * Commendo spiritum meum. In manus tuas.
℣. Thou hast redeemed us, O Lord God of truth. * I commend.
℣. Redemisti nos, Domine Deus veritatis. * Commendo.
Glory. Into thy hands.
Gloria. In manus tuas.
℣. Preserve us, O Lord, as the apple of thine eye.
℣. Custodi nos, Domine, ut pupillam oculi.
℟. Protect us under the shadow of thy wings.
℟. Sub umbra alarum tuarum protege nos.
The Canticle of the venerable Simeon—who, whilst holding the divine Infant in his arms, proclaimed him to be the Light of the Gentiles, and then slept the sleep of the just—harmonizes admirably with this closing Office of the day, at Christmastide; for, during this holy Season, the Church is for ever thanking God, because he has dispelled the shades of death by the rising of the Sun of Justice, in whose love she labors all day long, and takes her rest at night, saying: I sleep, and my heart watcheth.2
Canticle of Simeon
(St. Luke 2)
Now dost thou dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word, in peace.
Nunc dimittis servum tuum, Domine: * secundum verbum tuum in pace.
Because my eyes have seen thy Salvation,
Quia viderunt oculi mei: * Salutare tuum.
Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples.
Quod parasti: * ante faciem omnium populorum.
A light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
Lumen ad revelationem Gentium: * et gloriam plebis tuæ Israel.
Glory.
Gloria Patri, et Filio, &c.
Ant. Save us, O Lord, whilst awake, and watch us as we sleep; that we may watch with Christ, and rest in peace.
Ant. Salva nos, Domine, vigilantes: custodi nos dormientes, ut vigilemus cum Christo, et requiescamus in pace.
℣. The Lord be with you.
℣. Dominus vobiscum.
℟. And with thy spirit.
℟. Et cum spiritu tuo.
Let us pray.
Oremus.
Visit, we beseech thee, O Lord, this house and family, and drive from it all snares of the enemy: let thy holy Angels dwell herein, who may keep us in peace, and may thy blessing be always upon us. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.
Visita, quæsumus Domine, habitationem istam, et omnes insidias inimici ab ea longe repelle; Angeli tui sancti habitent in ea, qui nos in pace custodiant: et benedictio tua sit super nos semper. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia sæcula sæculorum. Amen.
℣. The Lord be with you.
℣. Dominus vobiscum.
℟. And with thy spirit.
℟. Et cum spiritu tuo.
℣. Let us bless the Lord.
℣. Benedicamus Domino.
℟. Thanks be to God.
℟. Deo gratias.
May the almighty and merciful Lord, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, bless and preserve us.
Benedicat et custodiat nos omnipotens et misericors Dominus, Pater, et Filius, et Spiritus Sanctus.
℟. Amen.
℟. Amen.
Anthem to the Blessed Virgin
Sweet Mother of our Redeemer, Gate whereby we enter heaven, and Star of the sea, help us, we fall; yet do we long to rise. Nature looked upon thee with admiration, when thou didst give birth to thy divine Creator, thyself remaining, before and after it, a pure Virgin. Gabriel spoke his Hail to thee; we sinners crave thy pity.
Porta manes, et stella maris, succurre cadenti,
Surgere qui curat populo. Tu quæ genuisti,
Natura mirante, tuum sanctum Genitorem.
Virgo prius ac posterius, Gabrielis ab ore
Sumens illud Ave, peccatorum miserere.
℣. After child-birth, thou didst remain most pure, O Virgin!
℣. Post partum, Virgo, inviolata permansisti.
℟. O Mother of God! make intercession for us.
℟. Dei Genitrix, intercede pro nobis.
Let us pray.
Oremus.
O God, who, by the fruitful Virginity of the Blessed Mary, hast given to mankind the rewards of eternal salvation; grant, we beseech thee, that we may experience Her intercession, by whom we received the Author of life, our Lord Jesus Christ, thy Son.
Deus qui salutis æternæ beatæ Mariæ virginitate fecunda humano generi præmia præstitisti: tribue, quæsumus, ut ipsam pro nobis intercedere sentiamus per quam meruimus auctorem vitæ suscipere Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium tuum.
℟. Amen.
℟. Amen.
℣. May the divine assistance remain always with us.
℣. Divinum auxilium maneat semper nobiscum.
℟. Amen.3
℟. Amen.
Then in secret, Pater, Ave, and Credo, Chapter IV. Morning and Night Prayers for Christmas.
The Last Stanza of the Hymn Is Thus Varied:
From Christmas Day till the Epiphany.
Roman Breviary
Qui natus es de Virgine,
Cum Patre et almo Spiritu,
In sempiterna sæcula.
Amen.
Monastic Breviary
Qui natus es de Virgine,
Cum Patre et Sancto Spiritu,
In sempiterna sæcula.
Amen.
For the Epiphany, and during the Octave.
Roman Breviary
Qui apparuisti Gentibus,
Cum Patre et almo Spiritu,
In sempiterna sæcula.
Amen.
Monastic Breviary
Qui apparuisti hodie,
Cum Patre et Sancto Spiritu,
In sempiterna sæcula.
Amen.
According to the Monastic Rite, as follows:
Te lucis ante terminum,
Rerum Creator, poscimus,
Ut solita clementia
Sis præsul ad custodiam.Procul recedant somnia,
Et noctium phantasmata;
Hostemque nostrum comprime,
Ne polluantur corpora.Præsta Pater omnipotens,↩︎
Per Jesum Christum Dominum,
Qui tecum in perpetuum
Regnat cum Sancto Spiritu.Cant. 5:2.↩︎
In the Monastic Rite, this Response is as follows:
℟. And with our absent Brethren. Amen.
℟. Et cum fratribus nostris absentibus. Amen.↩︎