Sleep, My Child, and Peace Attend Thee

A beautiful post but how could he not mention the final prayer of Compline?:

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, God, world without end.
R. Amen.

From Catholic Stand

By Guy, McClung, PhD, JD

n a recent article here, Masha Goepel wrote about  “Ghosts, Hauntings, and Unanswered Questions: A Guide to Our Restless Dead”. She mentioned demons, dangerous and vindictive ghosts, angry spirits,  and truly terrifying hauntings.

In the daily Divine Office of the Roman Breviary, for the hour of Compline at the end of the day, there are several centuries-old prayers which are recited to keep us safe and to ward off the evil spirits as we sleep. Of the seven canonical hours,  Compline is the last church service of the day. “Compline” is a derivative of the Latin word “completorium,” and signifies the completion of the waking day. St. Benedict first used the word in the 6th century in his Rule (Regula Benedicti).

Jube domne benedicere

The service of Compline begins with a prayer for a blessing and with a warning based on the First Epistle of St. Peter (1 Peter: 5-8):

Jube domne benedicere.
Noctem quietam et finem perfectum
concedat nobis Dominus omnipotens. Amen.
Fratres, sobri estote et vigilate,
quia adversarius vester diabolus,
tamquam leo rugiens circuit querens quem devoret,
cui resistite fortes in fide.
Tu autem Domine miserere nobis. Deo gratias.

Literally translated:

Order, Lord, to bless.
Concede to us a quiet night and a perfect end.
All-powerful Lord.
Brothers, be sober and vigilant,
Because our adversary the devil,
As it were goes about raging,  seeking whom he may devour,
Whom resist fortified in faith.
While You, Lord, have mercy on us, Thanks to God.

And a more poetic, less literal translation:

Please, Lord, your blessing.
May the all-powerful Lord grant us a peaceful night and a perfect end. Amen.
Brethren: Be sober and watch, because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, goes about seeking whom he may devour. Whom you resist, strong in faith. But do you, O Lord, have mercy on us.

Salva Nos, Domine

Another, somewhat  more comforting,  prayer during the hour of Compline is said after saying “In manus tuas, Domine, commendo spiritum meum, “ (Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit):

Salva nos, Domine, vigilantes, custodi nos dorminetes, ut vigilemus cum Christo, et requiescamus in pace. Amen.

Literally translated:

Save us, Lord, watching, keep us in your custody sleeping; and as we are vigilant with Christ, may we rest in peace. Amen

And a somewhat less literal translation:  Protect us, Lord, while we are awake and safeguard us while we sleep, that we may keep watch with Christ and rest in peace. Amen.

Te lucis ante terminum

The “Te lucis ante terminum” is an ancient hymn that, even in modern times, continues to be set to new musical adaptions. Some attribute its authorship to St. Ambrose of Milan.

Te lucis ante terminum,
Rerum Creator poscimus,
Ut pro tua clementia
Sis præsul et custodia.
Procul recedant somnia,
Et noctium phantasmata;
Hostemque nostrum comprime,
Ne polluantur corpora.
Præsta, Pater piissime,
Patrique compar Unice,
Cum Spiritu Paraclito
Regnans per omne sæculum.

A literal translation:

Before termination of the light,
Creator of things, we ask,
That through your clemency,
You may be protector and custodian.
Sleeplessness recede far away ,
And nighttime phantasms.
And our ghostly enemies
Pollute not our bodies.
Ready, most pious Father,
And only Son equal to the Father,
With the Holy Paraclete,
Ruling through all ages. Amen.

A poetic translation:

Before the end of the day,
Creator of the world, we pray
That with Thy wonted favor Thou
Wouldst be our Guard and Keeper now.
From all ill dreams defend our eyes,
From nightly fears and fantasies;
Tread underfoot 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.

Sunday Compline was often sung and several versions of each of the prayers and hymns quoted above are available on YouTube, along with sung versions of the entire text for this hour, including Latin/English translations.