Order for Night Prayer
The Church of Esoteric Christianity
About Night Prayer
In the Christian monastic tradition, Night Prayer, or Compline, is the
last set of Daily Prayers, or “Divine Office” in the monk’s daily
routine. Its primary themes are silence, contemplation, and invoking
God’s and the Angels’ protection throughout the night.
While initially prayed in monasteries, Night Prayer may also be
prayed in groups of any sort, or by private individuals seeking to
deepen their prayer life. Different churches have different ways of
doing Night Prayer, and this booklet contains the form used in the
Church of Esoteric Christianity, based on traditional Catholic and
Anglican sources yet simplified for the sake of approachability and
understanding.
About the Church of Esoteric Christianity
Deeper Mysteries exist within the hearts of all religions. These are
Mysteries of spirit, Mysteries of being, Mysteries that connect human
consciousness to the Divine.
These Mysteries are collectively called Esoteric Religion, and all
religions contain them. Christianity is no exception.
The Church of Esoteric Christianity explores these Mysteries that we
don’t hear about at the average pulpit. Inspired by the writings of
Brother A.D.A., especially his books Ritual Magic for Conservative
Christians and The Magic of Catholicism, we seek to plumb the depths of
esoteric Christianity within the matrix of mainstream, orthodox,
trinitarian theology and method.
For more information about our church, or to join us in our Sunday
meetings for worship and fellowship, visit our Facebook page at:
http://www.facebook.com/EsotericChurch/
– The Office for Nighttime Prayer –
55. The Office for Nighttime Prayer, or Compline
¶ The Officiant begins Night Prayer by saying or chanting:
Let us see ourselves surrounded with God’s light, * and the angels
sent to protect us.
* All now visualize a sphere brilliant light of protection surrounding
them, and angels keeping guard outside the sphere.
¶ The Officiant then says or chants the versicles:
V. The Lord Almighty grant us a peaceful night and a perfect end.
R. Amen.
V. Our help is in the Name of the Lord.
R. Who made heaven and earth.
¶ The Officiant may then say: Let us confess our sins to God.
* As the confession is made, all visualize any negativity leaving them,
using whatever visualizations is most comfortable to the individual.
All: I confess to almighty God, to blessed Mary ever Virgin, to
blessed Michael the Archangel, to blessed John the Baptist, to
the holy apostles Peter and Paul, to all the saints, that I have
sinned exceedingly in thought, word, and deed; through my
fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault.
Therefore I beseech blessed Mary ever Virgin, blessed Michael
the Archangel, blessed John the Baptist, the holy apostles Peter
and Paul, all the saints, to pray to the Lord our God for me.
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and
bring us to life everlasting. Amen.
Officiant (crossing self only): May the T almighty and merciful Lord grant
us pardon, absolution, and remission of all our sins. All say: Amen.
* During the next versicles, all visualize themselves filled with power.
¶ The Officiant then says:
V. Make haste, O God, to deliver me.
R. Make haste to help me, O Lord. (Ps. 70:1)
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– The Office for Nighttime Prayer –
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world
without end. Amen.
* During the Psalm and Hymn, all visualize the Sphere intensifying.
¶ Then shall be sung or said PSALM 4; 31:1-5; 91; or 134.
Psalm 91 Qui habitat
1. He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, * abides under the shadow of the
Almighty.
2. He shall say to the LORD, "You are my refuge and my stronghold, * my God in
whom I put my trust."
3. He shall deliver you from the snare of the hunter * and from the deadly
pestilence.
4. He shall cover you with his pinions, and you shall find refuge under his wings; *
his faithfulness shall be a shield and buckler.
5. You shall not be afraid of any terror by night, * nor of the arrow that flies by
day;
6. Of the plague that stalks in the darkness, * nor of the sickness that lays waste at
mid-day.
7. A thousand shall fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, * but it
shall not come near you.
8. Your eyes have only to behold * to see the reward of the wicked.
9. Because you have made the LORD your refuge, * and the Most High your
habitation,
10. There shall no evil happen to you, * neither shall any plague come near your
dwelling.
11. For he shall give his angels charge over you, * to keep you in all your ways.
12. They shall bear you in their hands, * lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13. You shall tread upon the lion and the adder; * you shall trample the young lion
and the serpent under your feet.
14. Because he is bound to me in love, therefore will I deliver him; * I will protect
him, because he knows my Name.
15. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; * I am with him in trouble; I will
rescue him and bring him to honor.
16. With long life will I satisfy him, * and show him my salvation.
¶ A HYMN suitable for the evening may be sung to any “Long Meter” tune.
Source: Breviarium Romanum. Tr. John Mason Neale (1818-1866)
1. To Thee, before the close of day
Creator of the world, we pray
that with Thy wonted favor, Thou
wouldst be our Guard and Keeper now.
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– The Office for Nighttime Prayer –
2. From all ill dreams defend our eyes,
from nightly fears and fantasies:
tread under foot our ghostly foe,
that no pollution we may know.
3. O Father, that we ask be done
through Jesus Christ Thine only Son,
who, with the Holy Ghost and Thee,
shall live and reign eternally. Amen.
Alternate Hymn: The Sun’s Bright Rays Are Lost to Sight
1. The sun’s bright rays are lost to sight,
Around us spreads the gloom of night;
Lord Jesus Christ, thou light divine
Let not our souls in darkness pine.
2. To thee our fervent thanks we pay,
Whose mercy crowned us all this day;
For thou didst send thine angels fair,
Who kept us in their tender care.
3. Our sins and faults do thou efface,
Vouchsafe to us thy boundless grace;
By thy forgiveness truly blest,
May we in sleep find peace and rest.
4. Thine angel guards from heaven send,
Against the foe protection lend;
O gracious Lord, from perils sore
Shield us tonight and evermore. Amen.
¶ Here shall a brief passage of SCRIPTURE be read. The following may be
used, or any other suitable passage of Scripture:
But you, O Lord, are with us, and your name is invoked over us,
so do not abandon us! Jeremiah 14:9b
Or,
Brothers and sisters: Be sober and vigilant. For your adversary,
the devil, is like a roaring lion, traveling around and seeking those
whom he might devour. Resist him by being strong in faith.
1 Peter 5:8-9a
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– The Office for Nighttime Prayer –
After the Reading, the people shall say: Thanks be to God.
* During these versicles, quickly visualize all Centers of Activity.
Then shall follow:
V. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit;
R. For you have redeemed us, O Lord, O God of truth.
V. Keep us, O Lord, as the apple of your eye;
R. Protect us under the shadow of your wings.
¶ Then shall be said the PRAYERS here following.
* During the Our Father, visualize the centers of Activity as follows.
Our Father, who art in heaven, – Corona Flammae (above head)
Hallowed be thy name; – Uncia Coeli (brow/“third eye”)
Thy kingdom come; thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven. – Flos Abysmi (throat)
Give us this day our daily bread; – Orbis Solis (heart)
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those
who trespass against us. – Cornua Lunae (groin)
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil. – Instita Splendens (feet)
[OPTIONAL: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, And the
glory, for ever and ever.] Amen.
* Let the Centers fade from your mind and now focus on the angels.
¶ Then the following versicle and response (if the Officiant is a cleric):
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with your spirit. (or, And also with you.)
Or (if the Officiant is a layperson):
V. Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come unto you.
¶ In both cases, the Officiant then says: Let us pray, then the COLLECT:
Visit this place, O Lord, and drive far from it all snares of the enemy;
let your holy angels dwell with us to preserve us in peace; and let your
blessing be upon us always; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
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– The Office for Nighttime Prayer –
* In this alternate Collect, quickly visualize each part as it is said.
Alternate Collect, saying “I” or “We” as appropriate:
Almighty Living God, in a spirit of thanks I come to you for
guiding me through another day. As I lie down to sleep this night,
I ask that you place your holy angels to guard and protect me:
Raphael before me,
Gabriel behind me,
Michael at my right hand,
and Uriel at my left.
May your love and protection surround me as a circle of flaming
stars, and above me and below me, within me and without me, may
the power of your Son envelop and increase me as I seek to live
each day in your name. Through the same Christ our Lord.
The Collect ended, the people shall respond: Amen.
* At the Nunc Dimittis, feel peace washing over you.
¶ The service concludes with the NUNC DIMITTIS (Luke 2:29-32, Hymn
#141), sung or said by all, with the following Antiphon before and after:
Antiphon: Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; *
that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest
in peace.
O, Lord, now let your servant go in peace; *
your word has been fulfilled.
My own eyes have seen the salvation *
which you have prepared in the sight of all people.
A light to reveal you to the nations *
and the glory of your people Israel.
Glory be to the Father, etc. and the Antiphon is repeated.
* At the benediction, visualize Light descending on your sphere.
¶ Then may be sung or said the BENEDICAMUS and the
BENEDICTION.
V. Bless we the Lord.
R. Thanks be to God.
May the almighty and merciful Lord bless and keep us: Father,
TSon, and Holy Spirit. R. Amen.
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– The Office for Nighttime Prayer –
¶ OPTION: Then may be said the SALVE REGINA with Collect:
* Visualize the Trinity and the Blessed mother extending protection.
All say: Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our
sweetness, and our hope. To thee to we cry, poor banished
children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning
and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious
advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our
exile, show unto us the blessed Fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O
clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
Then the Versicle and Prayer below:
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Officiant says: Let us pray. Almighty eternal God, by the cooperation
of the Holy Spirit you made ready the body and soul of the glorious
Virgin Mother Mary to be a fit dwelling place for your Son. As we
celebrate her memory with joy, grant that through her loving
intercession we may be preserved from all evil happenings, and
delivered from eternal death. Through the same Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
¶ Then is said the following versicle, bringing the daily Divine Office to a close:
V. May the divine assistance remain with us always.
R. Amen.
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– The Office for Nighttime Prayer –
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