Opening
God, come to my assistance. Lord, make haste to help me.
Hymn
Commending my spirit to you, I rest As one who is held, not lost. The enemy of peace has no true claim Where you have paid the cost. Keep the door. Keep the dream. Keep the name you spoke in love. I sleep beneath the shelter of your wings Until you call above.
Original – Prayer on Fire
Psalmody
Antiphon
Protect us from the terrors of the night and the wounds of the day.
Psalm 31 (30):2–6
Catholic Public Domain Version (public domain)
Psalm
In you, Lord, I have hoped; let me never be confounded. In your justice, deliver me. Incline your ear to me. Hasten to rescue me. Be for me a protector God and a house of refuge, so as to accomplish my salvation. For you are my strength and my refuge; and for the sake of your name, you will lead me and nourish me. You will lead me out of this snare, which they have hidden for me. For you are my protector. Into your hands, I commend my spirit. You have redeemed me, O Lord, God of truth.
Glory Be
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Antiphon
Protect us from the terrors of the night and the wounds of the day.
Silence
Let the last verse rest in you.
Reading
1 Thessalonians 5:9–10
Catholic Public Domain Version (public domain)
For God has not appointed us for wrath, but for the acquisition of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that, whether we watch, or whether we sleep, we may live in union with him.
Responsory
My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning. More than watchmen for the morning. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Nunc Dimittis
Antiphon
Light of the nations, watch the house while we sleep.
Luke 2:29–32
Catholic Public Domain Version (public domain)
Canticle
“Now you may dismiss your servant in peace, O Lord, according to your word. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared before the face of all peoples: the light of revelation to the nations and the glory of your people Israel.”
Glory Be
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Antiphon
Light of the nations, watch the house while we sleep.
Intercessions
If you wake us at dawn, let it be without bitterness. If you wake us in joy, we are already yours.
R. Lord, hear our prayer.
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. Amen.
Closing prayer
If we wake at dawn, let it be without bitterness. You are our rest and our rising. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.