Word of the Day: Compline

COMPLINE. The concluding hour of the Divine Office. Its origins in the West are commonly ascribed to St. Benedict (480-547). At first it was recited after the evening meal or before retiring. It now follows Vespers. As Night Prayer it consists of a hymn, one or two psalms, a short reading from Scripture, a versicle and response, the Nunc Dimittis of Simeon, and a concluding prayer. (Etym. Latin completorium, complement.)

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Even lovely, short little Compline could not escape the butchery of McOffice! In the Old Office it consisted of the Confiteor, three Psalms, an unvarying Hymn, 

Before the ending of the day,Creator of the world, we prayThat with thy wonted favor thouWouldst be our guard and keeper now.

From all ill dreams defend our eyes,
From nightly fears and fantasies;
Tread under foot our ghostly foe,
That no pollution we may know.

* O Father, that we ask be done,
Through Jesus Christ, thine only Son;
Who, with the Holy Ghost and thee,
Doth live and reign eternally.
Amen.

The Canticle Nunc Dimittis, and an unvarying, beloved collect, often printed in prayer-books as a part of night prayer,

Visit, we beseech thee, O Lord, this dwelling, and drive far from it the snares of the enemy; let thy holy angels dwell herein to preserve us in peace, and let thy blessing be always upon us.Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.R. Amen.

In McOffice, it has been shorn of one or two Psalms, the Hymn varies and the collect varies according to day of the week, the season or something like that. I honestly don't know

You can see the Breviary form of Compline here at Divinum Officium.

You can view the McOffice version at iBreviary.