January 11, 2014

Liturgical Guide: Night Prayer (Compline)


"Now during those days he went out to the mountain to pray; and he spent the night in prayer to God." - Luke 6:12

The hymns selected for Night Prayer (Compline) in the Divine Office draw upon the images of nightfall, darkness, sleep, and death to express Compline's themes: contrition of a sinful soul who desires to make peace with God, and petition for protection for "a peaceful night, and a perfect end".

LITURGY OF THE HOURS (1975)
42. Day is Done
48. We Praise You, Father, for Your Gifts
49. Holy God, We Praise Thy Name
50. This World, My God
51. Now at Daylight's Ending
52. All Praises to You, O God, This Night
53. The Master Came
99. When from the Darkness
184. O Radiant Light, O Sun Divine

DIVINE OFFICE (1974)
109. Christ the True Light of Us, True Morn
110. Now it is Evening
111. Lead Kindly Light
112. Abide With Me
113. The Day Thou Gavest
114. Now Thank We All Our God
115. Lord of All Hopefulness

1 comment:

  1. Kevin, it's been a great surprise to find this blog, thank you! A simple question about hymn selection, if compline is prayed in community, during the Advent season, can we choose an Advent hymn, or should we stick to one of the 18 "compline hymns"? Thanks!

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