The Night Office
To Be Observed Before Retiring
The Call to Prayer
May the Lord Almighty grant me and those I love a peaceful night and a perfect
end. Amen.†
The Request for Presence
Our help is in the Name of the Lord; the maker of heaven and earth.
The Greeting
Almighty God, my heavenly Father: I have sinned against you, through my own
fault, in thought, and word, and deed, in what I have done and what I have left
undone. For the sake of your Son our Lord Jesus Christ, forgive me all my
offenses; and grant that I may serve you in newness of life, to the glory of your
Name. Amen.†
The Reading
There is no greater proof in the world of our spiritual danger than the reluctance
which most people always have and all people sometimes have to pray; so
weary of their length, so glad when they are done, so clever to excuse and
neglect their opportunity. Yet prayer is nothing but desiring God to give us the
greatest and best things we can have and that can make us happy. It is a work
so easy, so honorable, and to so great a purpose, that (except in the incarnation
of His Son) God has never given us a greater argument of His willingness to
have us saved and our unwillingness to accept it, of His goodness and our
gracelessness, of His infinite condescension and our folly, than by rewarding so
easy a duty with such great blessings.
— Jeremy Taylor
The Gloria
Glory be to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. As it was
in the beginning, so it is now and so it shall ever be, world without end.
Alleluia. Amen.
The Psalm
O Lord, you are my shepherd;
I shall not want.
You make me lie down
In green pastures;
You lead me beside still waters.
You restore my soul;
You lead me in paths of righteousness
For your name's sake.
Even though I walk
Through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil;
For you are with me;
Your rod and your staff—
They comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
In the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
Surely, goodness and mercy
Shall follow me
All the days of my life,
And I shall dwell in your house, O Lord,
My whole life long..
The Gloria
Glory be to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. As it was
in the beginning, so it is now and so it shall ever be, world without end.
Alleluia. Amen.
The Small Verse
Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit; for you have redeemed me, O
Lord, O God of truth. Keep me, O Lord, as the apple of your eye; hide me
under the shadow of your wings.†
The Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be your Name.
May your kingdom come, and your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil;
for yours are the kingdom and the power and the glory
forever and ever. Amen.
The Petition
Watch, O Lord, with those who wake, or watch, or weep tonight, and give Your
angels and saints charge over those who sleep. Tend Your sick ones, O Lord
Christ. Rest Your weary ones. Bless Your dying ones. Soothe Your suffering
ones. Shield Your joyous ones, and all for Your love's sake. Amen.§
The Final Thanksgiving
Lord, you now have set your servant free to go in peace as you have promised; for
these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, whom you have prepared for all the
world to see: a Light to enlighten 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.