A Compline Office

(Adapted from A Book of Offices (1917))

Minister. ✠ In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Answer. Amen.
Minister. Turn thou us, O God our Saviour;
Answer. And let Thine anger cease from us.
Minister. O God, make speed to save us.
Answer. O Lord, make haste to help us.

¶ Here, all standing up,

Minister. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
Answer. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Minister. Praise ye the Lord.
Answer. The Lord’s Name be praised.

¶ Then shall be sung or said the Antiphon, and after that, this or one of the other designated Psalms.

Antiphon. Save us, O Lord.

Psalm 31. In te, Domine, speravi.

IN THEE O Lord, have I put my trust * let me never be put to confusion; deliver me in thy righteousness.
Bow down thine ear to me * make haste to deliver me.
And be thou my strong rock, and house of defence * that thou mayest save me.
For thou art my strong rock, and my castle * be thou also my guide, and lead me for thy Name’s sake.
Draw me out of the net that they have laid privily for me * for thou art my strength.
Into thy hands I commend my spirit * for thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, thou God of truth.

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.

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

HYMN

¶ The following hymn may be said or sung.

¶ Then may follow a Lesson of Holy Scripture.

¶ Then shall the Minister say the Compline Verse:

Thou, O Lord, art in the midst of us, and we are called by Thy Name; leave us not. Jer. xiv. 9.

Minister. Into Thy hands I commend my spirit.
Answer. For Thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, Thou God of truth.
Minister. Keep me as the apple of an eye;
Answer. Hide me under the shadow of Thy wings.

Antiphon. Lord, grant us Thy light.

Nunc dimittis. St. Luke ii. 29.

LORD, ✠ now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, * according to thy word.
For mine eyes have seen * thy salvation,
Which thou hast prepared * before the face of all people;
To be a light to lighten the Gentiles, * and to be the glory of thy people Israel.

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.

Antiphon. Lord, grant us Thy light, that being rid of the darkness of our hearts, we may come to the true Light, which is Christ.

¶ Then shall be said the Apostles’ Creed.

I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:

And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord: Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary: Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried: He descended into hell; The third day he rose again from the dead: He ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty: From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost: The holy Catholic Church; The Communion of Saints: The Forgiveness of sins: The Resurrection of the body: ✠ And the Life everlasting. Amen.

¶ Then shall be said, all kneeling:

Minister. Lord, have mercy upon us.
Answer. Christ, have mercy upon us.
Minister. Lord, have mercy upon us.

OUR Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Minister. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, God of our fathers :
Answer. And worthy to be praised, and glorified for ever.
Minister. Let us bless the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost;
Answer. Let us praise and exalt Him forever.
Minister. Blessed be Thou, O Lord, in the firmament of heaven;
Answer. And praised for evermore.
Minister. The almighty and merciful God bless us and keep us.
Answer. Amen.

¶ When the Confession is omitted, the Minister may pass to Vouchsafe O Lord etc., or to the final Collects.

Minister and People. We confess to Thee, O God the Father Almighty, that we have sinned against Thee in thought, word, and deed, by our own fault, our own grievous fault. We repent ourselves of these our transgressions, and we beseech Thee to grant us forgiveness for the past, and grace to amend our lives in time to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Minister. The Almighty and merciful Lord grant you remission of your sins, amendment of life, and the grace and consolation of His Holy Spirit. Amen.

¶ When there is not a Bishop or Priest present, the leader says,

GRANT, we beseech thee, merciful Lord, to thy faithful people pardon and peace, that we may be cleansed from all our sins, and serve thee with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Minister. Vouchsafe, O Lord,
Answer. To keep us this night without sin.
Minister. O Lord, have mercy upon us,
Answer. Have mercy upon us.
Minister. O Lord, let Thy mercy be upon us:
Answer. As our trust is in Thee.
Minister. Turn us again, Thou God of hosts:
Answer. Show the light of Thy countenance, and we shall be whole.
Minister. O Lord, hear our prayer;
Answer. And let our cry come unto Thee.
Minister. The Lord be with you;
Answer. And with thy spirit.
Minister. Let us pray.

¶ Then shall be said the Collects following.

LIGHTEN our darkness, we beseech Thee, O Lord; and by Thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of Thy only Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

GIVE us light in the night season, we beseech Thee, O Lord, and grant that our rest may be without sin, and our waking to Thy service; that we may come in peace and safety to the waking of the great day; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

¶ Here the Minister may add, at his discretion, any prayers from the Book of Common Prayer.

Minister. Bless we the Lord.
Answer. Thanks be to God.
Minister. The Almighty Lord grant us a quiet night and a good end.
Answer. Amen.

¶ The Minister then concludeth the Office as followeth:

THE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, ✠ and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen.