Compline

KNEEL
(PRAYER BEFORE OFFICE)
Aperi, Domine

Before Compline the Dual Prayer is not said as at the other Hours, but the Lector, making a profound reverence, begins at once:

STAND

Lectio Brevis                    I Pet. 5.8.
Fratres : Sóbrii estóte, et vigiláte : quia adversárius vester diábolus tamquam leo rúgiens círcuit, quærens quem dévoret : cui resístite fortes in fide.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis.
R.  Deo grátias.

Brief Lesson                   I Peter 5.8.
Brethren, be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour; whom resist ye, stedfast in the Faith.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R.  Thanks be to God.

V.  Adjutórium † nostrum in nómine Dómini.  
R.  Qui fecit cælum et terram.

In Choir

In Private Recitation

After which the following V. is said by the Officiant.  During this V. all make the holy Sign, with the thumb, over the left breast.

Opening Versicles
And then at once follow the Opening Versicles as prescribed in Common Forms. 

V.  Deus † in adjutórium meum inténde.
R.  Dómine ad adjuvándum me festína.
Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.  Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper,  *  et in sæcula sæculórum.  Amen.   Allelúja.

V.  O God, † make speed to save me.
R.  O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.  As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.  Amen.  Alleluia.

And then the Psalms with Antiphon.  The appropriate antiphon is begun by the Officiant, whereupon is intoned by the Precentor the first of the three Psalms as follows :

COMMENTARY

SIT (after intonation)

Psalmus 4. Cum invocarem

Cum invocárem exaudívit me Deus justítiæ meæ: *  in tribulatióne dilatásti mihi.
2  Miserére mei, * et exáudi oratiónem meam.
3  Fílii hóminum, úsquequo gravi corde? *  ut quid dilígitis vanitátem et quæritis mendácium?
4  Et scitóte quóniam mirificávit Dóminus sanctum suum: * Dóminus exáudiet me cum clamávero ad eum.
5  Irascímini, et nolíte peccáre: * quæ dícitis in córdibus vestris, in cubílibus vestris compungímini.
6  Sacrificáte sacrifícium justítiæ, et speráte in Dómino, * multi dicunt quis osténdit nobis bona?
7  Signátum est super nos lumen vultus tui, Dómine: *  dedísti lætítiam in corde meo.
8  A fructu fruménti, vini et ólei sui * multiplicáti sunt.
9  In pace in idípsum * dórmiam et requiéscam;
10  Quóniam tu, Dómine, singuláriter in spe * constituísti me.

He hath heard me when I call, the God of my righteousness: * thou hast set me at liberty when I was in trouble.
2  Have mercy upon me, * and hearken unto my prayer.
3  O ye sons of men, how long will ye be dull of heart? * and have such pleasure in vanity, and seek after leasing?
4  Know this also, that the Lord hath chosen to himself the man that is godly; * when I call upon the Lord he will hear me.
5  Be ye angry, and sin not; * the things that ye say in your hearts, repent ye them upon your beds.
6  Offer the sacrifice of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord, * there be many that say, who will shew us any good?
7  The light of thy countenance, O Lord, is sealed upon us, * thou hast put gladness in my heart.
8  By the fruit of their corn and wine and oil * have they been multiplied.
9  I will lay me down in peace, * and take my rest;
10  For it is thou, Lord, only, * that makest me dwell in safety.

Psalmus 90. Qui habitat

Qui hábitat in adjutório Altíssimi, * in protectióne Dei cæli commorábitur.
2  Dicet Dómino : Suscéptor meus es tu, et refúgium meum: * Deus meus sperábo in eum.
3  Quóniam ipse liberávit me de láqueo venántium, * et a verbo áspero.
4  Scápulis suis obumbrábit tibi: * et sub pennis ejus sperábis.
5  Scuto circúmdabit te véritas ejus: * non timébis a timóre noctúrno.
6  A sagítta volánte in die, a negótio perambulánte in ténebris: * ab incúrsu et dæmónio meridiáno.
7  Cadent a látere tuo mille, et decem míllia a dextris tuis: * ad te autem non appropinquábit.
8  Verúmtamen óculis tuis considerábis: * et retributiónem peccatórum vidébis.
9  Quóniam tu es, Dómine, spes mea: * Altíssimum posuísti refúgium tuum.
10  Non accédet ad te malum: * et flagéllum non appropinquábit tabernáculo tuo.
11  Quóniam Angelis suis mandávit de te: * ut custódiant te in ómnibus viis tuis.
12  In mánibus portábunt te: * ne forte offéndas ad lápidem pedem tuum.
13  Super áspidem et basilíscum ambulábis: * et conculcábis leónem et dracónem.
14  Quóniam in me sperávit, liberábo eum: * prótegam eum quóniam cognóvit nomen meum.
15  Clamábit ad me, et ego exáudiam eum : * cum ipso sum in tribulatióne : erípiam eum et glorificábo eum.
16  Longitúdine diérum replébo eum: * et osténdam illi salutáre meum.

Whoso dwelleth under the defence of the Most High, * shall abide under the shadow of the God of heaven.
2  He shall say unto the Lord, Thou art my hope, and my stronghold; * my God, in him will I trust.
3  For he hath delivered me from the snare of the hunter, * and from the noisome pestilence.
4  He shall defend thee under his wings, * and thou shalt be safe under his feathers
5  His truth shall be thy shield to compass thee round about; * thou shalt not be afraid for any terror by night.
6  Nor for the arrow that flieth by day, for the pestilence that walketh in darkness, * nor for the demon that destroyeth in the noon-day.
7  A thousand shall fall beside thee, and ten thousand at thy right hand; * but it shall not come nigh thee.
8  Yea, with thine eyes shalt thou behold, * and see the reward of the ungodly.
9  For thou, Lord, art my hope; * thou hast set thine house of defence on the Most High.
10  There shall no evil happen unto thee, * neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11  For he hath given his angels charge over thee, * to keep thee in all thy ways.
12  They shall bear thee in their hands, * that thou hurt not thy foot against a stone.
13  Thou shalt go upon the adder and basilisk: * the lion and the dragon shalt thou tread under thy feet.
14  Because he hath set his hope upon me, therefore will I deliver him; * I will defend him, because he hath known my Name.
15  He shall call upon me, and I will hear him; * yea, I am with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and bring him to honour.
16  With long life will I satisfy him, * and shew him my salvation.

Psalmus 133.  Ecce nunc

Ecce nunc benedícite Dóminum, * omnes servi Dómini:
2  Qui statis in domo Dómini, * in átriis domus Dei nostri.
3  In nóctibus extóllite manus vestras in sancta, * et benedícite Dóminum.
4  Benedícat te Dóminus ex Sion, * qui fecit cælum et terram.

Behold now, bless the Lord, * all ye servants of the Lord;
2  Ye that stand in the house of the Lord, * even in the courts of the house of our God.
3  Lift up your hands by night in the sanctuary, * and bless ye the Lord.
4  The Lord that made heaven and earth * give thee blessing out of Sion.

STAND

Te lucis ante términum,
Rerum Creátor, póscimus,
Ut pro tua cleméntia
Sis præsul et custódia.

Procul recédant sómnia,
Et nóctium phantásmata;
Hostémque nostrum cómprime,
Ne polluántur córpora.

*  Deo Patri sit glória,
Et Fílio, qui a mórtuis
Surréxit, ac Paráclito,
In sæculórum sæcula.  Amen.

Before the ending of the day,
Creator of the world, we pray
That thou with wonted love wouldst keep
Thy watch around us while we sleep.

O let no evil dreams be near,
Nor phantoms of the night appear;
Our ghostly enemy restrain,
Lest ought of sin our bodies stain..

Whitsuntide Doxology
All praise be thine, O risen Lord,
From death to endless life restored;
Whom with the Father we adore,
And Holy Ghost, for evermore.  Amen.

Capitulum                      Jer. 14. 9.
Tu autem in nobis es, Dómine, et nomen sanctum tuum invocátum est super nos : ne derelínquas nos, Dómine, Deus noster.
R.  Deo grátias.

The Little Chapter          Jer. 14. 9.
Thou, O Lord, art in the midst of us, and we are called by thy Name; leave us not, O Lord our God.
R.  Thanks be to God.

V.  In manus tuas, Dómine, comméndo spíritum meum, * Allelúja, allelúja.
R.  In manus tuas, Dómine, comméndo spíritum meum, * Allelúja, allelúja.
V.  Redemísti nos, Dómine Deus veritátis.
R.  Allelúja, allelúja.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  In manus tuas, Dómine, comméndo spíritum meum, * Allelúja, allelúja.

V.  Custódi nos Dómine ut pupíllam óculi, allelúja.
R.  Sub umbra alárum tuárum prótege nos, allelúja.

V.  Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit, * Alleluia, alleluia.
R.  Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit, * Alleluia, alleluia.
V.  For thou hast redeemed us, O Lord, thou God of truth.
R.  Alleluia, alleluia.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit, * Alleluia, alleluia.

V.  Keep us, O Lord, as the apple of an eye, alleluia.
R.  Hide us under the shadow of thy wings, alleluia.

After the V. and R. the Antiphon to the Gospel Canticle is begun by the Officiant.  After which all sign themselves with the holy Sign as the Precentor intones the opening words of the Nunc Dimittis:

CANTICUM SIMEONIS

Luke 2.29-32.

NUNC DIMITTIS † servum tuum, Dómine,  *  secúndum verbum tuum in pace :
2  Quia vidérunt óculi mei  *  salutáre tuum,
3  Quod parásti  *  ante fáciem ómnium populórum,
4  Lumen ad revelatiónem Géntium,  *  et glóriam plebis tuæ Israël.
5  Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto.
6  Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper,  *  et in sæcula sæculórum.  Amen.

THE SONG OF SIMEON

Nunc Dimittis           Luke 2.29-32.

Lord, † now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, * according to thy word.
2  For mine eyes have seen * thy salvation,
3  Which thou hast prepared * before the face of all people;
4  To be a light to lighten the Gentiles, * and to be the glory of thy people Israel.
5  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.
6  As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, * world without end.  Amen.

Ant.  Salva nos, Dómine, vigilántes, custódi nos dormiéntes; ut vigilémus cum Christo, et requiescámus in pace.  Allelúja.

Ant.  Save us, O Lord, waking, guard us sleeping, that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.  Alleluia.

After the Canticle, and the repetition of the Antiphon by the whole choir, at once the Salutation is said, with the Collect, as indicated below.

V.  Dóminus vobíscum.
R.  Et cum spíritu tuo.

Orémus.              Oratio
Vísita, quæsumus, Dómine, habitatiónem istam, et omnes insídias inimíci ab ea longe repélle : Angeli tui sancti hábitent in ea, qui nos in pace custódiant ; et benedíctio tua sit super nos semper.  Per Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum Fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, per ómnia sæcula sæculórum. 
R.  Amen.

Let us pray.              Collect
Visit, we beseech thee, O Lord, this habitation, and drive far 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, thy Son our Lord.  Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.
R.  Amen.

V.  Dóminus vobíscum.
R.  Et cum spíritu tuo.

V.  Benedicámus Dómino.
R.  Deo grátias.

Benedictio
Benedícat et custódiat nos omnípotens et miséricors Dóminus, Pater, † et Fílius, et Spíritus Sanctus.
R.  Amen.

Benediction
May the Lord Almighty and merciful vouchsafe to bless us and keep us, the Father, † the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
R.  Amen.

The V. Fidelium is not said, but immediately there follows one of the Marian antiphons, as prescribed in Common Forms.

The Choir stands for the Marian Ant. and its V., R., Collect and concluding V. throughout Eastertide.  And when the Choir stands for this Ant. after Compline, no one kneels until the Triple Prayer is finished.

REMAIN STANDING

Regina cæli lætare

V.  Divínum auxílium † máneat semper nobíscum.
R.  Amen.

V. May help divine † be with us all, for ever abiding.
R.  Amen.

Our Father.
Hail Mary.
I believe in God.

If Matins follow immediately after Compline, the Triple Prayer is said twice, the first time for the end of the preceding day, and the second time for the beginning of the Office of the following day.

KNEEL
(PRAYER AFTER OFFICE)
Sacrosanctæ