The Night Office
To Be Observed Before Retiring
Audio Version
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
Pied Beauty
Glory be to God for dappled things—
For skies of couple-colour as a brindled cow;
For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim;
Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches' wings;
Landscape plotted and pieced-fold, fallow and plough;
And all trades, their gear and tackle and trim.
All things counter, original, spare, strange;
Whatever is fickle, freckled (who knows how?)
With swift, slow; sweet, sour; adazzle dim;
He fathers-forth whose beauty is past change:
Praise him.
— Gerard M. Hopkins
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
Your Paths Overflow with Plenty
Those who dwell at the ends of the earth will tremble at your marvelous signs;*
you make the dawn and the dusk to sing for joy.
You visit the earth and water it abundantly; you make it very plenteous;* the river
of God is full of water.
You prepare the grain,* for so you provide for the earth.
You drench the furrows and smooth out the ridges;* with heavy rain you soften
the ground and bless its increase.
You crown the year with your goodness,* and your paths overflow with plenty.
May the fields of the wilderness be rich for grazing,* and the hills be clothed with
joy.
May the meadows cover themselves with flocks, and the valleys cloak themselves
with grain;* let them shout for joy and sing.
— Psalm 65:8-14
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.