Night Prayer, also called Compline, is the final prayer of the day in the Liturgy of the Hours. It is meant to be prayed just before going to bed, as a way of entrusting the night and your soul to God’s care. It is the most personal and intimate of all the hours, marked by peace, stillness, and trust in divine protection. Whether prayed alone or with others, Night Prayer helps you close the day in the presence of God, with gratitude, examination, and rest.
1. Begin with a brief examination of conscience
Before starting the actual prayers, take a moment for silent reflection. Examine your conscience, briefly reviewing the events of the day. Acknowledge your faults and sins, and ask God for mercy and forgiveness. This quiet moment helps purify your heart and prepares you to end the day in peace. You may also say a short act of contrition during this time.
2. Begin with the opening verse
Now turn to the Ordinary section of your breviary and begin with the familiar words, “O God, come to my assistance. Lord, make haste to help me.” Then pray the Glory Be to the Father, and during most of the year, add “Alleluia.” In Lent and on penitential days, omit the Alleluia. This opening focuses your mind and heart and reminds you that your day ends, like it began, in God’s grace.
3. Sing or recite the hymn
After the opening verse, continue with the hymn for Night Prayer. These hymns are often gentle and calming, designed to bring your spirit into quiet restfulness. The hymn may vary slightly through the week, and is found in the Night Prayer section of your breviary. You may choose a familiar one or use the one assigned for the night. Singing the hymn is beautiful if you are able, but simply reciting it slowly is perfectly suitable and prayerful.
4. Pray the psalm or psalms with the antiphon
Now move to the psalmody. Night Prayer includes one or two psalms depending on the day. Each night of the week has its own selection of psalms, and they repeat every seven days. These psalms focus on trust in God, peace, rest, and protection through the night. Begin with the antiphon, then pray the psalm slowly and peacefully, and repeat the antiphon afterward. Some nights use a single psalm; others may combine two. The psalms are brief and easy to memorize over time.
5. Read the short scripture passage
After the psalmody, read the short Scripture passage for the night. These readings are short, comforting verses chosen to prepare the soul for rest and to offer words of hope and peace. They remind you of God’s closeness and mercy. Read the passage slowly, and pause briefly afterward to reflect on its message.
6. Pray the responsory
Following the reading, pray the brief responsory. This is a short verse that often emphasizes God’s protection or a spirit of peaceful trust. The most common responsory in Night Prayer is: “Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit,” repeated with variations. It draws from the words of Christ and expresses a total surrender to God as the day ends.
7. Recite the Canticle of Simeon (Nunc Dimittis)
Now recite the Canticle of Simeon, also called the Nunc Dimittis, from the Gospel of Luke. This is the prayer Simeon spoke when he saw the infant Jesus in the temple. Begin with the antiphon of the day, then recite the canticle: “Lord, now you let your servant go in peace…” This prayer captures the peace of one who has seen the light of Christ and is now ready for rest and even death. It is the perfect way to end the day. After the canticle, repeat the antiphon.
8. Pray the concluding prayer
Next, say the concluding prayer for the night. Each day has its own short closing prayer, usually asking God for peaceful rest, protection during the night, or forgiveness and healing. These prayers are found in the Night Prayer section for each day of the week. If it is a feast or solemnity, a special prayer may be used from the Proper of Saints or Seasons.
9. End with the blessing and dismissal
After the concluding prayer, say the final blessing. If you are praying alone, say, “May the Lord grant us a restful night and a peaceful death. Amen.” If a priest or deacon is present, he may offer a formal blessing. This blessing seals the day with hope and confidence in God.
10. Say the Marian antiphon
To conclude Night Prayer, it is traditional to sing or recite a Marian antiphon. There are four antiphons used at different times of the liturgical year: Salve Regina, Alma Redemptoris Mater, Ave Regina Caelorum, and Regina Caeli. These antiphons honor the Blessed Virgin Mary and ask her to watch over us as we sleep. You may choose to recite the antiphon in English or Latin, and many breviaries include musical settings if you wish to sing it.
11. Prepare your breviary ahead of time
To pray Night Prayer smoothly, mark the Night Prayer section in your breviary in advance. Because it is short and follows a weekly pattern, it’s easier to navigate than the other hours. Some breviaries include Night Prayer in a separate, easy-to-access section. Place a ribbon or bookmark at the correct day, and another in the Ordinary if you are still learning the structure. The Marian antiphon can be found in the back of most breviaries.
Night Prayer is a gentle and peaceful way to end each day. It allows you to close the day with thanksgiving, to ask for mercy where needed, and to go to sleep with the confidence that God watches over you through the night. Its simplicity makes it easy to adopt into daily life, and its beauty deepens with repetition. Whether you are exhausted or full of joy, Night Prayer offers a quiet resting place for your soul before sleep.
Mr. William C. Michael, O.P.
Headmaster
Classical Liberal Arts Academy
