Sunday Night Prayer | thejesusgallery

SUNDAY NIGHT PRAYER

From The Liturgy of the Hours

(This night’s prayer, or Saturday’s, is suggested for memorization so it can be prayed from memory, any night of the week, in the last moments of wakefulness.)

OPENING

(†) God, come to my assistance.

―Lord, make haste to help me.

Optional additions

God, come to our assistance.

―Lord, make haste to help each and every one of us.

God, come to your world’s assistance.

―Lord, make haste to help all of creation.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;

―as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. (Alleluia!)

EXAMEN (OPTIONAL)

Brief examination of conscience and/or personal reflection on the day and/or penitential prayer.

Sunday is an especially good time to reflect on obedience to the first three of the Ten Commandments:

1. I am the Lord your God: you shall have no other gods before me.

2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

3. Remember to keep holy the Sabbath.

HYMN

Day is done, but love unfailing

Dwells ever here;

Shadows fall, but hope, prevailing,

Calms every fear.

Loving Father, none forsaking,

Take our hearts, of Love’s own making,

Watch our sleeping, guard our waking,

Be always near.

Dark descends, but Light unending

Shines through our night;

You are with us, ever lending

New strength to sight;

One in love, your truth confessing,

One in hope of heaven’s blessing,

May we see, in love’s possessing,

Love’s endless light!

Eyes will close, but you, unsleeping,

Watch by our side;

Death may come: in Love’s safe keeping

Still we abide.

God of love, all evil quelling,

Sin forgiving, fear dispelling,

Stay with us, our hearts indwelling;

This eventide.

PSALMODY

Psalm 91, Safe in God’s sheltering care

I have given you the power to tread upon serpents and scorpions. (Luke 10:19)

Antiphon: Night holds no terrors for me sleeping under God’s wings.

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

and abides in the shade of the Almighty

says to the Lord: “My refuge,

my stronghold, my God in whom I trust!”

It is he who will free you from the snare

of the fowler who seeks to destroy you;

he will conceal you with his pinions

and under his wings you will find refuge.

You will not fear the terror of the night

nor the arrow that flies by day,

nor the plague that prowls in the darkness

nor the scourge that lays waste at noon.

A thousand may fall at your side,

ten thousand at your right,

you, it will never approach;

his faithfulness is buckler and shield.

Your eyes have only to look

to see how the wicked are repaid,

you who have said: “Lord, my refuge!”

and have made the Most High your dwelling.

Upon you no evil shall fall,

no plague approach where you dwell.

For you has he commanded his angels,

to keep you in all your ways.

They shall bear you upon their hands

lest you strike your foot against a stone.

On the lion and the viper you will tread

and trample the young lion and the dragon.

Since he clings to me in love, I will free him;

protect him for he knows my name.

When he calls I shall answer: “I am with you.”

I will save him in distress and give him glory.

With length of life I will content him;

I shall let him see my saving power.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;

―as it was in the beginning, is now and will be for ever. Amen. (Alleluia!)

Antiphon repeated: Night holds no terrors for me sleeping under God’s wings.

READING Revelation 22:4-5

They will look upon his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. Night will be no more, nor will they need light from lamp or sun, for the Lord God shall give them light, and they shall reign forever and ever.

RESPONSORY

Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.

―Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.

You have redeemed us, Lord God of truth.

―I commend my spirit.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

―Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.

GOSPEL CANTICLE

Canticle of Simeon, Luke 2:29-32

Christ is the light of the nations and the glory of Israel.

Antiphon: Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake, watch over us as we sleep, that awake, we may keep watch with Christ, and asleep, rest in his peace.

(†) Lord, now you let your servant go in peace;

your word has been fulfilled:

with my own eyes I have seen the salvation

which you have prepared in the sight of every people:

a light to reveal you to the nations

and the glory of your people Israel.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;

―as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. (Alleluia!)

Antiphon repeated: Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake, watch over us as we sleep, that awake, we may keep watch with Christ, and asleep, rest in his peace.

CLOSING PRAYER

Let us pray.

Lord,

we have celebrated today

the mystery of the rising of Christ to new life.

May we now rest in your peace,

safe from all that could harm us,

and rise again refreshed and joyful,

to praise you throughout another day.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Or, on other days of the week

Let us pray.

Lord,

we beg you to visit this house

and banish from it

all the deadly power of the enemy.

May your holy angels dwell here

to keep us in peace,

and may your blessing be upon us always.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

FINAL BLESSING

(†) May the all-powerful Lord grant us a restful night and a peaceful death. Amen.

ANTIPHON IN HONOR OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

(Or, Hail Holy Queen, Hail Mary, Regina Caeli)

Loving mother of the Redeemer,

gate of heaven, star of the sea,

assist your people who have fallen yet strive to rise again.

To the wonderment of nature you bore your Creator,

yet remained a virgin after as before.

You who received Gabriel’s joyful greeting,

have pity on us poor sinners.