Evening Prayers
Never neglect night prayers. Offer up fervent supplications that you may be protected from harm while you rest. Each night may be your last.
In the name of the Father, ✠ and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Act of Thanksgiving
I most heartily thank Thee, O Lord, for all Thy mercies and blessings bestowed upon me and upon Thy whole Church; and particularly for those I have received from Thee this day, in watching over me, and preserving me from so many evils, and favoring me with so many graces and inspirations. [Here pause and meditate on God’s mercies.] Oh, let me never more be ungrateful unto Thee, my God, Who art so good and gracious.
Examination of Conscience
O my Lord Jesus Christ, Judge of the living and the dead, before Whom I must appear one day to give an exact account of my whole life; enlighten me, I beseech Thee, and give me an humble and contrite heart, that I may see wherein I have offended Thine infinite Majesty, and judge myself now with such a just severity, that then Thou mayest judge me with mercy and clemency.
Here pause a moment and consider where and in what company you have been this day. Call to mind the sins committed against God, your neighbor, or yourself; and reflect whether you have fulfilled the duties of your state of life.
Offenses against God: Omission or negligence in religious duties; irreverence and wilful distractions in prayer; lack of confidence and resignation; cursing, swearing, etc.
Against the neighbor: Want of obedience or respect; scandal, hatred, quarreling; stealing, injuries; lies, false reports; jealousy, desire of revenge, etc.
Against self: Vanity, human respect; thoughts, desires or language against purity; intemperance in eating or drinking; laziness and neglect of one’s duties.
The Confiteor
I confess to Almighty God, to blessed Mary ever Virgin, to blessed Michael the Archangel, to blessed John the Baptist, to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and to all the Saints, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word and deed, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault. Therefore I beseech blessed Mary ever Virgin, blessed Michael the Archangel, blessed John the Baptist, the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and all the Saints, to pray to the Lord our God for me.
May Almighty God have mercy on me, forgive me my sins, and bring me to everlasting life. Amen.
May the Almighty and merciful Lord grant me pardon, ✠ absolution, and remission of all my sins.
Act of Contrition
O my God! I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, who art all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life.
An Evening Hymn
Now that the daylight dies away,
By all Thy grace and love,
Thee, Maker of the world, we pray
To watch our bed above.
Let dreams depart and phantoms fly,
The offspring of the night;
Keep us, like shrines, beneath Thine eye,
Pure in our foes’ despite.
This grace on Thy redeemed confer,
Father, co-equal Son,
And Holy Ghost, the Comforter,
Eternal Three in One.
Prayer for the Departed, Especially Our Friends and Benefactors
O God! the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful, grant to the souls of Thy servants departed, the remission of all their sins, that, through pious supplications, they may obtain that pardon, which they have always desired. Who livest and reignest forever and ever.
Act of Petition
Visit, we beseech Thee, O Lord, this habitation, and drive far from it all snares of the enemy. Let Thy holy angels dwell herein, to preserve us in peace; and may Thy blessing be always upon us, through our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Save us, O Lord, when we are awake, and keep us while we sleep, that we may watch with Christ, and rest in peace.
