The Night Office
To Be Observed Before Retiring
The Call to Prayer
May the Lord Almighty grant me and those I love a peaceful night and a perfect end. Amen.†
The Request for Presence
Our help is in the Name of the Lord; the maker of heaven and earth.
The Greeting
Almighty God, my heavenly Father: I have sinned against you, through my own fault, in thought, and word, and deed, in what I have done and what I have left undone. For the sake of your Son our Lord Jesus Christ, forgive me all my offenses; and grant that I may serve you in newness of life, to the glory of your Name. Amen.†
The Reading
Catherine of Siena on the Virgin
If I consider your own great counsel, eternal Trinity, I see that in your light you saw the dignity and nobility of the human race. So, just as love compelled you to draw us out of yourself, so that same love compelled you to buy us back when we were lost. In fact, you showed that you loved us before we existed, when you chose to draw us out of yourself only for love. But you have shown us greater love still by giving us yourself, shutting yourself up today in the pouch of humanity...
The Cry of the Church
Come, thou long-expected Jesus!
The Psalm
For God Alone My Soul in Silence Waits
For God alone my soul in silence waits;* truly, my hope is in him.\nHe alone is my rock and my salvation,* my stronghold, so that I shall not be shaken.\nIn God is my safety and my honor;* God is my strong rock and my refuge.\nPut your trust in him always, O people,* pour out your hearts before him, for God is our refuge.\nGod has spoken once, twice have I heard it,* that power belongs to God.
— Psalm 62:6-9, 13
The Small Verse
Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit; for you have redeemed me, O Lord, O God of truth. Keep me, O Lord, as the apple of your eye; hide me under the shadow of your wings.†
The Lord's Prayer
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. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Petition
Watch, O Lord, with those who wake, or watch, or weep tonight, and give Your angels and saints charge over those who sleep. Tend Your sick ones, O Lord Christ. Rest Your weary ones. Bless Your dying ones. Soothe Your suffering ones. Shield Your joyous ones, and all for Your love's sake. Amen.§
The Final Thanksgiving
Lord, you now have set your servant free to go in peace as you have promised; for these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, whom you have prepared for all the world to see: a Light to enlighten the nations, and the glory of your people Israel. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
