The Order for Compline from the Customary

Preparation

The Lord almighty grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.

Amen.

Brethren, be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh abroad, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist, steadfast in the faith. 1 Pet 5:8, 9

But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.

Thanks be to God.

Our help is in the name of the Lord

who hath made heaven and earth.

A period of silence for reflection on the past day may follow.

The following or other suitable words of penitence may be used.

I confess to God,

to blessed Mary,

and to all the Saints,

that I have sinned exceedingly

in thought, word, and deed,

And, striking their breasts, they say

through my own fault;

and they continue

I ask holy Mary,

and all the Saints of God,

to pray for me.

The minister says

May almighty God have mercy upon us, forgive us all our sins; deliver us from every evil; confirm and strengthen us in goodness;, and bring us to everlasting life.

Amen.

O God, make speed to save us.

O Lord, make haste to help us.

Throughout the year except during Lent

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.

The following or another suitable hymn may be said or sung

Before the ending of the day,

Creator of the world we pray,

That with thy wonted favour thou

Wouldst be our guard and keeper now.

From all ill dreams defend our eyes,

From nightly fears and fantasies;

Tread underfoot our ghostly foe,

That no pollution we may know.

O Father, that we ask be done,

Through Jesus Christ, thine only Son;

Who, with the Holy Ghost and thee,

Doth live and reign eternally. Amen.

Psalmody

One or more psalms may be used

Psalm 4
Psalm 31:1–6
Psalm 91
Psalm 134

At the end of the psalmody these words are said or sung:

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.

Scripture Reading

One of the following short lessons or another suitable passage is read

Thou, O Lord, art in the midst of us, and we are called by thy name; leave us not, O Lord our God. Jer 14:9

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Mt 11:28–30

Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight; through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Heb 13:20–21

At the end the following may be said

Thanks be to God.

The following responsory may be said.

Throughout the year except Eastertide

Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

For thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, thou God of truth.

I commend my spirit.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

The Respond

Keep me as the apple of an eye.

Hide me under the shadow of thy wings.

Gospel Canticle

Nunc dimittis

Seasonal antiphons may be used

Advent
Christmas
Epiphany
Lent
Easter
Ascension
Pentecost
Trinity Sunday, All Saints, Feasts

Through the year

Preserve us, O Lord, while waking, and guard us while sleeping,

that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace:

according to thy word.

For mine eyes have seen thy salvation:

which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

To be a light to lighten the Gentiles:

and to be the glory of thy people Israel. Lk 2:29–32

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.

Preserve us, O Lord, while waking, and guard us while sleeping,

that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.

Prayers

Lord, have mercy upon us.

Christ, have mercy upon us.

Lord, have mercy upon us.

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name;

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Blessed art thou, Lord God of our fathers:

to be praised and glorified above all for ever.

Let us bless the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit:

let us praise him and magnify him for ever.

Blessed art thou, O Lord, in the firmament of heaven:

to be praised and glorified above all for ever.

The almighty and most merciful Lord guard us and give us his blessing.

Amen.

The following suffrages may be omitted.

Wilt thou not turn again and quicken us;

that thy people may rejoice in thee?

O Lord, shew thy mercy upon us;

and grant us thy salvation.

Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this night without sin;

O Lord, have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us.

O Lord, hear our prayer;

and let our cry come unto thee.

Let us pray.

One or more of the following Collects is said

Visit, we beseech thee, O Lord, this place, and drive from it all the snares of the enemy; let thy holy Angels dwell herein to preserve us in peace; and may thy blessing be upon us evermore; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord; and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of thy only Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Amen.

O Lord Jesus Christ, son of the living God, who at this evening hour didst rest in the sepulchre, and didst thereby sanctify the grave to be a bed of hope to thy people: make us so to abound in sorrow for our sins, which were the cause of thy passion, that when our bodies lie in the dust, our souls may live with thee; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end.

Amen.

Look down, O Lord, from thy heavenly throne, illuminate the darkness of this night with thy celestial brightness, and from the sons of light banish the deeds of darkness; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Be present, O merciful God, and protect us through the silent hours of this night, so that we who are wearied by the changes and chances of this fleeting world, may repose upon thy eternal changelessness; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Conclusion

We will lay us down in peace and take our rest.

For it is thou, Lord, only that makest us dwell in safety.

Abide with us, O Lord,

for it is toward evening and the day is far spent.

As the watchmen look for the morning,

so do we look for thee, O Christ.

If Mass is to be celebrated the following morning

Come with the dawning of the day

and make thyself known in the breaking of bread.

Then

The Lord be with you.

and with thy spirit.

Let us bless the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

The almighty and merciful Lord, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, bless us and preserve us.

Amen.

Anthem to Our Lady

From Advent Sunday
From Christmas Day
From the day after the Presentation
From Easter Day
From Trinity Sunday