Compline

KNEEL
(PRAYER BEFORE OFFICE)
Aperi, Domine

Before Compline the Dual Prayer is not said as at the other Hours, but the Lector, making a profound reverence, begins at once:

STAND

Lectio Brevis                    I Pet. 5.8.
Fratres : Sóbrii estóte, et vigiláte : quia adversárius vester diábolus tamquam leo rúgiens círcuit, quærens quem dévoret : cui resístite fortes in fide.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis.
R.  Deo grátias.

V.  Adjutórium † nostrum in nómine Dómini.  
R.  Qui fecit cælum et terram.

After which is said the General Confession, etc. as in Common Forms, which form differs for private recitation.

In Choir

In Private Recitation

After which the following V. is said by the Officiant.  During this V. all make the holy Sign, with the thumb, over the left breast.

And then the Psalms with Antiphon.  The appropriate antiphon is begun by the Officiant, whereupon is intoned by the Precentor the first of the three Psalms, according to the Office of the day as given in the Psalter:

After which the Antiphon is repeated entire by the Choir.

And then the Hymn.  The same Hymn is always used, unless the Proper orders its omission.

STAND

Te lucis ante términum,
Rerum Creátor, póscimus,
Ut pro tua cleméntia
Sis præsul et custódia.

Procul recédant sómnia,
Et nóctium phantásmata;
Hostémque nostrum cómprime,
Ne polluántur córpora.

*  Præsta, Pater piíssime,
Patríque compar Unice,
Cum Spíritu Paráclito
Regnans per omne sæculum.  Amen.

Before the ending of the day,
Creator of the world, we pray
That thou with wonted love wouldst keep
Thy watch around us while we sleep.

O let no evil dreams be near,
Nor phantoms of the night appear;
Our ghostly enemy restrain,
Lest ought of sin our bodies stain..

Ordinary Ending:
Almighty Father, hear our cry,
Through Jesus Christ our Lord most high,
Who, with the Holy Ghost and thee,
Doth live and reign eternally.  Amen.

Table of Proper Doxologies

The Little Chapter          Jer. 14. 9.
Thou, O Lord, art in the midst of us, and we are called by thy Name; leave us not, O Lord our God.
R.  Thanks be to God.

V.  In manus tuas, Dómine, * Comméndo spíritum meum.
R.  In manus tuas, Dómine, * Comméndo spíritum meum.
V.  Redemísti nos, Dómine Deus veritátis.
R.  Comméndo spíritum meum.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  In manus tuas, Dómine, * Comméndo spíritum meum.

V.  Custódi nos Dómine ut pupíllam óculi.
R.  Sub umbra alárum tuárum prótege nos.

After the V. and R. the Antiphon to the Gospel Canticle is begun by the Officiant.  After which all sign themselves with the holy Sign as the Precentor intones the opening words of the Nunc Dimittis:

CANTICUM SIMEONIS

Luke 2.29-32.

NUNC DIMITTIS † servum tuum, Dómine,  *  secúndum verbum tuum in pace :
2  Quia vidérunt óculi mei  *  salutáre tuum,
3  Quod parásti  *  ante fáciem ómnium populórum,
4  Lumen ad revelatiónem Géntium,  *  et glóriam plebis tuæ Israël.
5  Glória Patri, et Fílio, * et Spirítui Sancto.
6  Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper,  *  et in sæcula sæculórum.  Amen.

THE SONG OF SIMEON

Nunc Dimittis           Luke 2.29-32.

Lord, † now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, * according to thy word.
2  For mine eyes have seen * thy salvation,
3  Which thou hast prepared * before the face of all people;
4  To be a light to lighten the Gentiles, * and to be the glory of thy people Israel.
5  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.
6  As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, * world without end.  Amen.

The Preces

Continuation of Compline when the Preces are not said

After the Canticle, and the repetition of the Antiphon by the whole choir, if the Preces be omitted, at once the Salutation is said, with the Collect, as indicated below.

The Preces of Compline are known as dominical Preces when said standing, and as ferial Preces when said kneeling.

The ferial Preces are always said at Compline if they have been said at Vespers, ie. on kneeling days.

The dominical Preces are said on common Ferias in and out of Eastertide; when the Office of Our Lady on Saturday is said; and on Feasts of the rank of Simple and Semidouble, unless there occur an Office excepted in the following Rubric:

The Preces are omitted on Doubles, in the Office of Days within Octaves (NB. There are no days within simple Octaves); in the Office of Octave Days (even when simple); in the Offices of the Epiphany and Pentecost Vigils; in the Office of the Friday after the Ascension Octave; and when at Vespers a Commemoration has been made of a double or of an Octave Day (even when Simple).

STAND (for Dominical Preces) or KNEEL (for Ferial Preces)

Preces

V.  Kyrie, eléison.
R.  Christe, eléison.  Kyrie, eléison.

V.  Lord, have mercy upon us.
R.  Christ, have mercy upon us.  Lord have mercy upon us.

V.  Benedíctus es, Dómine Deus patrum nostrórum.
R.  Et laudábilis et gloriósus in sæcula.

V.  Blessed art thou, O Lord, God of our fathers.
R.  And to be praised and exalted above all for ever.

V.  Benedicámus Patrem et Fílium cum Sancto Spíritu.
R.  Laudémus et superexaltémus eum in sæcula.

V.  Benedíctus es, Dómine, in firmaménto cæli.
R.  Et laudábilis, et gloriósus, et superexaltátus in sæcula.

V.  Benedícat et custódiat nos omnípotens et miséricors Dóminus.
R.  Amen.

V.  Dignáre, Dómine, nocte ista.
R.  Sine peccáto nos custodíre.

V.  Miserére nostri, Dómine.
R.  Miserére nostri.

V.  Fiat misericórdia tua, Dómine, super nos.
R.  Quemádmodum sperávimus in te.

V.  Dómine, exáudi oratiónem meam.
R.  Et clamor meus ad te véniat.

V.  Let us bless the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
R.  Let us praise him and magnify him for ever.

V.  Blessed art thou, O Lord, in the firmament of heaven.
R.  And to be praised and exalted and magnified above all for ever.

V.  The Lord Almighty and merciful vouchsafe to bless and preserve us.
R.  Amen.

V.  Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us.
R.  This night without sin.

V.  O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R.  Have mercy upon us.

V.  O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us.
R.  As our trust is in thee.

V.  O Lord, hear my prayer.
R.  And let my cry come unto thee.

After the Preces, or if they be omitted, after the repetition of the Ant., on the Nunc Dimittis, is said at once the Salutation and the Collect as follows:

V.  Dóminus vobíscum.
R.  Et cum spíritu tuo.

Orémus.              Oratio
Vísita, quæsumus, Dómine, habitatiónem istam, et omnes insídias inimíci ab ea longe repélle : Angeli tui sancti hábitent in ea, qui nos in pace custódiant ; et benedíctio tua sit super nos semper.  Per Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum Fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, per ómnia sæcula sæculórum. 
R.  Amen.

Let us pray.              Collect
Visit, we beseech thee, O Lord, this habitation, and drive far from it all the snares of the enemy: let thy holy Angels dwell herein, to preserve us in peace; and may thy blessing be upon us evermore.  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.

V.  Dóminus vobíscum.
R.  Et cum spíritu tuo.

V.  Benedicámus Dómino.
R.  Deo grátias.

The V. Fidelium is not said, but immediately there follows one of the Marian antiphons, as prescribed in Common Forms.

The Choir stands for the Marian Ant. and its V., R., Collect and concluding V. throughout Eastertide and from Vespers of Saturday through Sunday Compline, but at all other times the Choir kneels during this devotion, the Officiant alone rising before the Collect, which he prays standing, through its concluding V.  And when the Choir stands for this Ant. after Compline, no one kneels until the Triple Prayer is finished.

KNEEL (weekdays) or STAND (Saturdays & Sundays)

From Vespers of the Saturday before the I Sunday in Advent through II Vespers of the Purification; or if this Feast be transferred, through Vespers on February 2nd:

Alma Redemptoris Mater

Ave, Regina cælorum

Regina cæli lætare

Salve Regina

Our Father.
Hail Mary.
I believe in God.

If Matins follow immediately after Compline, the Triple Prayer is said twice, the first time for the end of the preceding day, and the second time for the beginning of the Office of the following day.

KNEEL
(PRAYER AFTER OFFICE)
Sacrosanctæ