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, Domne, 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; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, goeth about seeking whom he may devour: whom resist ye, 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 repeats it.
The Priest, having pronounced the general form of absolution, says:
℣. Convert us, O God, our Savior.
℣. Converte nos, Deus, salutaris noster.
℟. And turn away thine 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.
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 the 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 thine 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. There is no snare neglected by the demons; but the good Angels watch over us, with brotherly solicitude. Then, we have God himself speaking, and promising to send us a 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 unto 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 thine 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 unto thee, nor shall the scourge come near thy dwelling.
Non accedat 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 unto 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 mihi, 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.
Patrique compar Unice,
Cum Spiritu Paraclito
Regnans per omne sæculum.
Amen.
Amen.
Capitulum
(Jeremias 14)
But thou art in us, O Lord, and thy holy Name hath 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,—is admirably appropriate to the Office of Compline. Holy Church blesses God for having dispelled the darkness of night by the rising of the Sun of Justice; it is for love of him that she toils the whole day through and rests during the night, saying: I sleep, and my heart watcheth.2
Canticle of Simeon
(St. Luke 2)
Now thou dost 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, &c.
Gloria.
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.
Let us pray.
Oremus.
Visit, we beseech thee, O Lord, this house and family, and drive far 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
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy.
Salve Regina, Mater misericordiæ.
Our Life, our Sweetness, and our Hope, all hail!
Vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.
To thee we cry, poor banished children of Eve;
Ad te clamamus, exsules filii Evæ.
To thee we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping, in this vale of tears.
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes in hac lacrymarum valle.
Turn, then, most gracious Advocate! thine eyes of mercy towards us;
Eia, ergo, advocata nostra, illos tuos misericordes oculos ad nos converte;
And, after this our exile, show unto us the blessed Fruit of thy womb, Jesus;
Et Jesum benedictum fructum ventris tui, nobis post hoc exsilium ostende;
O merciful,
O clemens,
O kind,
O pia,
O sweet Virgin Mary!
O dulcis Virgo Maria.
℣. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,
℣. Ora pro nobis, sancta Dei Genitrix.
℟. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
℟. Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi.
Let us pray.
Oremus.
O almighty and everlasting God, who, by the co-operation of the Holy Ghost, didst prepare the body and soul of Mary, glorious Virgin and Mother, to become the worthy habitation of thy Son: grant that we may be delivered from present evils and from everlasting death, by her gracious intercession, in whose commemoration we rejoice. Through the same Christ our Lord. ℟. Amen.
Omnipotens, sempiterne Deus, qui gloriosæ Virginis Matris Mariæ corpus et animam, ut dignum Filii tui habitaculum effici mereretur, Spiritu Sancto cooperante præparasti: da ut cujus commemoratione lætamur, ejus pia intercessione ab instantibus malis et a morte perpetua liberemur. Per eumdem Christum Dominum nostrum. ℟. Amen.
℣. May the divine assistance remain always with us.
℣. Divinum auxilium maneat semper nobiscum.
℟. Amen.3
℟. Amen.
Then, in secret, Pater, Ave, and Credo.
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.Amen.↩︎
Cant. 5:2.↩︎
In the Monastic Rite this response is as follows:—
℟. And with our absent Brethren. Amen.
℟. Et cum fratribus nostris absentibus. Amen.↩︎