Compline (Night Prayer)

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.

A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.

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 Sion – 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.

Prayer
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

An antiphon to Our Lady should be recited here.

Lk 1:57-66
#	Douay-Rheims	Vulgate
57	Now Elizabeth's full time of being delivered was come: and she brought forth a son.	Elisabeth autem impletum est tempus pariendi et peperit filium
58	And her neighbors and kinsfolks heard that the Lord had shewed his great mercy towards her: and they congratulated with her.	et audierunt vicini et cognati eius quia magnificavit Dominus misericordiam suam cum illa et congratulabantur ei
59	And it came to pass that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child: and they called him by his father's name Zachary.	et factum est in die octavo venerunt circumcidere puerum et vocabant eum nomine patris eius Zacchariam
60	And his mother answering, said: Not so. But he shall be called John.	et respondens mater eius dixit nequaquam sed vocabitur Iohannes
61	And they said to her: There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.	et dixerunt ad illam quia nemo est in cognatione tua qui vocetur hoc nomine
62	And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.	innuebant autem patri eius quem vellet vocari eum
63	And demanding a writing table, he wrote, saying: John is his name. And they all wondered.	et postulans pugillarem scripsit dicens Iohannes est nomen eius et mirati sunt universi
64	And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed: and he spoke, blessing God.	apertum est autem ilico os eius et lingua eius et loquebatur benedicens Deum
65	And fear came upon all their neighbours: and all these things were noised abroad over all the hill country of Judea.	et factus est timor super omnes vicinos eorum et super omnia montana Iudaeae divulgabantur omnia verba haec
66	And all they that had heard them laid them up in their heart, saying: What an one, think ye, shall this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him.	et posuerunt omnes qui audierant in corde suo dicentes quid putas puer iste erit etenim manus Domini erat cum illo

The Naming of St. John the Baptist

Fra Angelico

1434-35
Tempera on panel, 26 x 24 cm
Museo di San Marco, Florence