Category: Compline (Page 1 of 2)

Some of us have used these compline liturgies for many years. They are a nice exercise to do alone for the evening prayer time, to do with your cell, or to repeat often until they resonate deeply. They are gifts from the Northumbria Community in England and reflect their history as a great center of the Celtic Church. There will be no Bible readings this week, they are included in the prayer.

Thoughts for meditation

Some of us have used these compline liturgies for many years. They are a nice exercise to do alone for the evening prayer time, to do with your cell, or to repeat often until they resonate deeply. They are gifts from the Northumbria Community in England and reflect their history as a great center of the Celtic Church. There will be no Bible readings this week, they are included in the prayer.

Saint Patrick and his followers, played by actors, lead the annual Saint Patrick’s Day parade this year in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland.

Thoughts for meditation

Patrick (389-461) was a Briton and a former slave in Ireland. He became the ‘Apostle to Ireland’, travelling widely, evangelizing tirelessly and organizing churches and monasteries. He established his episcopal seat in Armagh, which became the center of Christianity in the whole of Ireland. Patrick was fearless in the pursuit of his aim: to destroy paganism and to exalt the name of the Triune God.

Suggestion for action

If this Compline is being used in a group setting the * notation indicates a change of reader; words in bold are said all together; words in bold italic are said by each person in turn; and + indicates where you might make the sign of the cross.

+ (silently)

In the name of the King of life;
in the name of the Christ of love;
in the name of the Holy Spirit:
the Triune of my strength.

* I love you, O Lord my strength.
The Lord is my rock,
my fortress and my deliverer.
My God is my rock
in whom I take refuge.

* I will praise the Lord who counsels me;
even at night my heart instructs me.

* I have set the Lord always before me.
Because He is at my right hand,
I shall not be shaken.

I am placing my soul and my body
under your guarding this night, O Christ.
May your cross this night be shielding me.

* Into Your hands I commit my spirit;
redeem me, O Lord, the God of Truth.

* The God of life with guarding hold you;
the loving Christ with guarding fold you;
the Holy Spirit, guarding, mold you;
each night of life to aid, enfold you;
each day and night of life uphold you.

May God shield me;
may God fill me;
may God keep me;
may God watch me;
may God bring me this night
to the nearness of His love.

* The peace of the Father of joy,
the peace of the Christ of hope,
the peace of the Spirit of grace,

the peace of all peace
be mine this night
+ in the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Some of us have used these compline liturgies for many years. They are a nice exercise to do alone for the evening prayer time, to do with your cell, or to repeat often until they resonate deeply. They are gifts from the Northumbria Community in England and reflect their history as a great center of the Celtic Church. There will be no Bible readings this week, they are included in the prayer.

Boisil greets his famous pupil, Cuthbert, 12th Century manuscript in British Library.

Thoughts for meditation

Boisil, Prior of Melrose Abbey, died in 661. Bede described him as a “priest of great virtue and prophetic spirit.” Boisil, on his first meeting with Cuthbert, who was to be his pupil, exclaimed, “Behold, the servant of the Lord!” – recognizing the call of God on the young man’s life.

Suggestion for action

If this Compline is being used in a group setting the * notation indicates a change of reader; words in bold are said all together; words in bold italic are said by each person in turn; and + indicates where you might make the sign of the cross.

+ (silently)

* O Lord, You will keep us safe
and protect us forever.

I am placing my soul and my body
in your safe keeping this night, O God,
in your safe keeping, O Jesus Christ,
in your safe keeping, O Spirit of perfect truth.
The Three who would defend my cause
be keeping me this night from harm.

* I call on You, O God,
for You will answer me;
give ear to me and hear my prayer.

* Show the wonder of Your great love,
You who save by Your right hand
those who take refuge in You from their foes.

* Keep me as the apple of Your eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings.

Lighten my darkness, Lord.
Let the light of Your presence
dispel the shadows of night.

* Christ with me sleeping,
Christ with me waking,
Christ with me watching,
each day and each night.

* Save us, Lord, while we are awake,
guard us while we are asleep;
that, awake, we may watch with Christ,
and, asleep, may rest in His peace.

God with me protecting,
the Lord with me directing,
the Spirit with me strengthening
for ever and for evermore.

* In the name of the Father precious,
and of the Spirit of healing balm.
In the name of the Lord Jesus,
I lay me down to rest.

The peace of all peace
be mine this night
+ in the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Some of us have used these compline liturgies for many years. They are a nice exercise to do alone for the evening prayer time, to do with your cell, or to repeat often until they resonate deeply. They are gifts from the Northumbria Community in England and reflect their history as a great center of the Celtic Church. There will be no Bible readings this week, they are included in the prayer.

Thoughts for meditation

Ebba was the sister of Oswald and Oswy, who were both kings of Northumbria. She was consecrated a nun by Aidan and founded the double (i.e. there were both men and women there) monastery at Coldingham, situated on St Abbs’s Head (which was subsequently named after her). Ebba died in the year 683. Bede described her as a ‘pious woman and a handmaid of Christ.’

Suggestion for action

If this Compline is being used in a group setting the * notation indicates a change of reader; words in bold are said all together; words in bold italic are said by each person in turn; and + indicates where you might make the sign of the cross.

+ (silently)

* Find rest, O my soul, in God alone:
my hope comes from Him.

Come I this night to the Father,
come I this night to the Son,
come I to the Holy Spirit powerful:
come I this night to God.
Come I this night with Christ,
come I with the Spirit of kindness.
Come I to you, Jesus.
Jesus, shelter me.

* I will lie down and sleep.
I wake again,
because the Lord sustains me.

* By day the Lord directs His love;
at night His song is with me –
a prayer to the God of my life.

* Be strong and take heart,
all you who hope in the Lord.

* This dwelling, O God, by you be blest;
and each one who here this night does rest.

* May God be in my sleep;
may Christ be in my dreams.
May the Spirit be in my repose,
in my thoughts, in my heart.
In my soul always
may the Sacred Three dwell.

May the Father of heaven
have care of my soul,
His loving arm about my body,
through each slumber
and sleep of my life.

The Son of God be shielding me from harm,
the Son of God be shielding me from ill,
the Son of God be shielding me with power.
The Son of God be shielding me this night.

* Sleep, O sleep in the calm of each calm.
Sleep, O sleep in the guidance of all guidance.
Sleep, O sleep in the love of all loves.
Sleep, O beloved, in the Lord of life.
Sleep, O beloved, in the God of life.

The peace of all peace
be mine this night
+ in the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.