Chapter the Third on the Office of Compline During the Time after Pentecost

This Office, which concludes the day, commences by *a warning of the dangers of the night: then immediately follows the public confession of our sins, as a powerful means of propitiating the divine justice, and obtaining God's help, now that we are going to spend so many hours in the unconscious, and therefore dangerous, state of sleep, which is also such an image of death.

The lector, addressing the priest, says to him :

Jube, domne, benedicere. Pray, father, give thy blessing.

The priest answers :

Noctem quietam et finem May the almighty Lord perfectum concedat nobis grant us a quiet night, and a Dominus omnipotens. perfect end.

1$. Amen. R. Amen.

The lector then reads these words, from the first Epistle of St Peter:

Fratres: Sobrii estote, et vigilate : quia adverearius vester diabolus, tamquam sary leo rugiens, circuit quaerens quern devoret : cni resistite fortes in fide. Tu autem, Domine, miserere nobis.

Brethren, be sober and watch ; because your adverthe devil, like a roaring lion, goeth about seeking whom he may devour: whom resist ye, strong in faith. But thou, O Lord, have mercy on us.

The choir answers : 1$. Deo gratias. Thanks be to God.

Then the priest :

Adjutorium nostrum ft. Oar help is in the name in nomine Domini. of the Lord,

The choir :

Qui fecit ccelum et 1$. Who hath made heaven terram. and earth.

Then the Lord's Prayer is recited in secret; after which the priest says the confiteor, and when he has finished, the choir repeats it.

The priest, having pronounced the general form of absolution, says : ft. Converte nos, Dens, ft. Convert us, O God, our salutaris noster. Saviour.

1$. Et averte iram tuara 1$. And turn away thine a nobis. anger from us. ft. Deus, in adjutorium ft. Incline unto my aid, O meum intende. God.

1$. Domine, ad adjuvan- 1$. O Lord, make haste to dum me festina. help me.

Gloria Patri, <fcc Glory, <fec.

Akt. Miserere. Ant. Have mercy.

The first psalm expresses the confidence with which the just man sleeps in peace ; but the wicked know not what calm rest is. psalm 4

Cum invocarem exaudivit me Deus justitiae meae: * in tribulatione dilatasti mihi.

Miserere mei: * et exaudi orationem meam.

Filii hominum, usquequo gravi corde : * ut quid diligitis van ita tern, et quaaritis mendacium 1

When I called upon him, the God of my justice heara me : when I was in distress, thou hast enlarged me.

Have mercy on me: and hear my prayer.

O ye sons of men, how long will you be dull of heart 1 why do you love vanity, and seek after lying 1

TIME AFTER PENTECOST

Et scitote quoniam mirificavit Dominus sanctum suurn : * Dominus exaudiet me, cum clamavero ad eum.

Lrascimini et nolite peccare: * quae dicitis in cordibus vestris, in cubilibus Testris compungimini.

Sacrificate sacrincium justiti», et sperate in Domino:

• multi dicunt : Quis ostendit nobis bona?

Signatum est super nos lumen vultus tui Domine:

• dedisti laetitiam in corde meo.

A fructu frumenti, vini et olei sui: * multiplicati sunt.

In pace in idipsum : * dormiam et requiescam.

Quoniam tu, Domine, singulariter in spe : * constituisti me.

Know ye also that the Lord hath made his holy One wonderful: the Lord will hear me, when I shall cry unto him.

Be ye angry, and sin not : the things you say in your hearts, be sorry for them upon your beds.

Offer up the sacrifice of justice, and trust in the Lord : many say, Who showeth us good things 1

The light of thy countenance, O Lord, is signed upon us : thou hast given gladness in my heart

By the fruit of their corn, their wine, and oil, they are multiplied.

In peace, in the self same, I will sleep, and I will rest For thou, Lord, singularly hast settled me in hope.

The Church has introduced here the first six verses of psalm xxx., because they contain the prayer which our Saviour made when dying: Into thy hands, 0 Lord, I commend my spirit ! — words so beautifully appropriate to this Office of the close of the day. psalm 30

In te, Domine, speravi, non confundar in seternum : * in justitia tua libera me.

Inclina ad me aurem tuam : * accelera ut eruas me.

Esto mihi .in Deum protectorem, et in domum refugii: * ut salvum me facias.

Quoniam fortitudo mea,

In thee, O Lord, have I hoped, let me never be confounded : deliver me in thy justice.

Bow down thine ear to me: make haste to deliver me.

Be thou unto me a God, a protector, and a house of refuge, to save me.

For thou art my strength,

COMPLINE et refugium meum es tu : * et propter nomen tuum deduces me, et enutries me.

Educes me de laqueo hoc quern absconderunt mihi: * quoniam tu es protector meus.

In manus tuas com men - do spiritum meum: * re- and my refuge : and for thy name's sake, thou wilt lead me, and nourish me.

Thou wilt bring me out of this snare, which they have hidden for me : for thou art my protector.

Into thy bands I commend my spirit s thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, the God of truth. demisti me, Domine, Deua veritatis.

The third psalm gives the motives of the just man's confidence, even during the dangers of the night. There is no snare neglected by the demons; but the good angels watch over us, with brotherly solicitude. Then we have God Himself speaking, and promising to send us a Saviour. psalm 90

Qui habitat in adjutorio Altlssimi: * in protectione Dei coeli commorabitur.

Dicet Domino : Susceptor meus es tu, et refugium meum : * Deua meus, sperabo in eum.

Quoniam ipse liberavit me de laqueo venantium: * et a verbo aspero,

Scapulis suis obumbrabit tibi: * et sub pennis ejus sperabis.

Scuto circumdabit te Veritas ejus: * non timebis a timore nocturno :

A sagitta volante in die, a negotio perambulante in tenebris: * ab incurs u, et d&monio meridiano.

Cadent a latere tuo mille,

He that dweUeth in the aid of the Most High, shall abide under the protection of the God of heaven*

He shall say unto the Lord: Thou art my protector, and my refuge : my God, in him will I trust.

For he hath delivered me from the snare of the hunters: and from the sharp word.

He will overshadow thee with his shoulders: and under his wings thou shalt trust.

His truth shall compass thee with a shield : thou shalt not be afraid of the terror of the night :

Of the arrow that flieth in the day : of the business that walketh about in the dark : of in vasion, or of the noonday devil.

A thousand shall fall at tby

TIME AFTER PENTECOST et decern miilia a dextris tuis: * ad te autem non appro pin quabit.

Verumtamen oculis tuis considerabis : * et retributionem peccatorum videbia.

Quoniam ta es, Domine, spes mea : * Altissimum posuisti refugium tuum.

Non accedet ad te malum: * et flagellum non appropin quabit taberuaculo tuo.

Quoniam angelis suis man davit de te : * ut custodiant te in omnibus viis tuis.

In manibus portabunt te : * ne forte offendas ad lapidem pedem tuum.

Super aspidem et basiliscum ambulabis: * et conculcabis leonem et draconem.

Quoniam in me speravit, liberabo eum: * protegam eum, quoniam cognovit nomen meum.

Clamabit ad me, et ego exaudiam eum: * cum ipso sum in tribulatione, eripiam eum, et glorificabo eum.

Longitudine dierum replebo eum : * et ostendam illi salutare meum. side, and ten thousand at thy right hand : but it shall not come nigh thee.

But thou shalt consider with thine eves: and shalt see the reward of the wicked.

Because thou hast said: Thou, O Lord, art my hope, thou hast made the Most High thy refuge. There shall no evil come unto thee, nor shall the scourge come near thy dwelling. For he hath given his angels charge over thee: to keep tnee in all thy ways.

In their hands they shall bear thee up : lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Thou shalt walk upon the asp and basilisk: and thou shalt trample under foot the lion and the dragon.

God will say of thee : Because he hoped in me, I will deliver him: I will protect him, because he hath known my name.

He will cry unto me, and I will hear him: I am with him in tribulation, I will deliver hira, and I will glorify him.

I will fill him with length of days : and I will show him my salvation.

The fourth psalm invites the servants of God to persevere, with fervour, in the prayers they offer during the night. The faithful should say this psalm in a spirit of gratitude to God, for raising up in the Church adorers of His holy name, whose grand vocation is to lift up their hands, day and night, for the safety of Israel. On such prayers depend the happiness and the destinies of the world.

COMPLINE

PSALM 133

Ecce nunc benedicite Dominum : * omnes servi Domini.

Qui statis in domo Domini: *in atriis domus Dei nostri.

In noctibus extollite manus vestras in sancta: * et benedicite Dominum.

Benedicat te Dominns ex Sion : * qui fecit ccelum et terrain.

Ant. Miserere mihi, Domine, et exaudi orationem meam.

Behold ! now bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord.

Who stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God.

In the nights lift up your hands to the holy places, and bless ye the Lord. Say to Israel: May the Lord, out of Sion, bless thee, he that made heaven and earth.

Ant. Have mercy on me, O Lord, and hear my prayer.

HYMN*

Te lucis ante terminum, Rerum Creator, poscimus, Ut pro tua dementia, Sis prsesul et custodia.

Procul recedant somnia, Et noctium phantasmata ; Hostemque nostrum cornprime, Ne polluantur corpora.

Praesta, Pater piissime, Patrique compar Unice, Cum Spiritu Paraclito Regnans per omne sseculum.

Amen.

Before the closing of the light, we beseech thee, Creator of all things ! that, in thy clemency, thou be our protector and our guard.

May the dreams and phantoms of night depart far from us : and do thou repress our enemy, lest our bodies be profaned.

Most merciful Father! and thou, his only-begotten Son, coequal with him, reigning for ever, with the holy Paraclete, grant this our prayer!

Amen.

1 According to the monastic rite, as follows :

Te lucis ante terminum, Rerum Creator, poscimus, Ut solita dementia Sis praesul ad custodiam.

Procul recedant somnia Et noctium phantasmata ;

Hostemque nostrum coraprime, Ne polluantur corpora.

Praesta, Pater omnipotens, Per Jesum Christum Dominum, Qui tecum in perpetuum Regnat cum sancto Spiritu.

Amen.

TIME AFTER PENTECOST

CAPITULUM (Jeremias, xiv.)

Tu autem in nobis es Domine, et nomen sanctum tuum invocatum est super nos: ne derelinqttas nos, Domine Deus noster.

1$. In manus tuas, Domine : * Commendo spiritum menm. In manus tuas.

$\ Redemisti nos, Domine Deus veritatis. * Commendo.

Gloria. In manus tuas.

$\ Custodi nos, Domine, utpupillam oculi.

1$. Sub umbra alarum tuarum protege nos.

But thou art in us, O Lord, and thy holy name hath been invoked upon us : forsake us not, O Lord our Ood.

1$. Into thy bands,OLord:* I commend my spirit. Into thy hands.

Thou hast redeemed us, O Lord God of truth. * I commend. Glory. Into thy hands.

Preserve us, O Lord, as the apple of thine eye.

1$. Protect us under the shadow of thy wings.

The canticle of the venerable Simeon — who, while holding the divine Infant in his arms, proclaimed Him to be the light of the Gentiles, and then slept the sleep of the just — is admirably appropriate to the Office of Compline. Holy Church blesses God for having dispelled the darkness of night by the rising of the Sun of justice ; it is for love of Him that she toils the whole day through, and rests during the night, saying : ' I sleep, but my heart watcheth/ 1

CANTICLE OF SIMEON

(St. Luke, ii.)

Nunc dimittis servum tuum, Domine : * secundum verbum tuum in pace.

Quia viderunt oculi mei: * salutare tuum.

Quod parasti: * ante faciem omnium populorum.

Lumen ad revelationem 1 Cant.

Now dost thou dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word, in i>eace.

Because mine eyes have seen thy salvation.

Which thou hast prepared : before the face of all peoples.

A light to the revelation of v. 2.

Gentium : * et gloriam plebis tuse Israel. Gloria.

Ant. Salva nos, Domine, vigilantes: custodi nos dormientes, ut vigilemus cum Christo, et requiescamus in pace.

OREMUS

Visita, quaesumus, Domine, habitationem istam, et omnes insidias inimici ab ea longe repelle : angeli tui sancti habitent in ea, qui nos in pace custodiant: et benedictio tua sit super nos semper. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnatin unitate Spiritus sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

$\ Dominus vobiscum. Et cum spiritu tuo.

^. Benedicamus Domino. j$. Deo gratias.

Benedicat et custodiat nos omnipotens et misericors Dominus, Pater, et Filius, et Spiritus sanctus.

3$. Amen.

ANTHEM TO THE

Salve Regina, Mater misericordiae.

Vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.

Ad te clamamus, exsules filii Evae.

Ad te su8piramus, gementes et flentes in bac lacrymarum valle.

Eia, ergo, advocata no-

,ine 55 the Gentile^ and the glory of thy people Israel. Glory, <fec.

Ant. Save us, O Lord, while awake, and watch us as we sleep, that we may watch with Christ, and rest in peace. let us peay

Visit, we beseech thee, O Lord, this house and family, and drive far from it all snares of the enemy : let thy holy angels dwell therein, who may keep us in peace, and may thy blessing be always upon us. Through J esus Christ our Lord, thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. 1$. Amen.

^. The Lord be with you,

1$. And with thy spirit. y. Let us bless the Lord.

3$. Thanks be to God.

May the almighty and merciful Lord, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, bless and preserve us.