Evening Prayers
The Catholic Girl’s Guide, compiled by F. X. Lasance, 1906Source and notes
Source
| Printed in | The Catholic Girl’s Guide. Counsels and Devotions for Girls in the Ordinary Walks of Life, and in Particular for the Children of Mary. |
|---|---|
| Imprint | New York, Cincinnati, Chicago, Benziger Brothers, 1906 |
| Pages | pp. 451–452 |
| Scan | leaf 459, leaf 460 of the Internet Archive copy |
| Approval | Nihil Obstat. REMIGIUS LAFORT, Censor Librorum. Imprimatur. JOHN M. FARLEY, Archbishop of New York. New York, December 18, 1905. |
| Rights | Public domain in the United States. |
- Prayers for
- thanksgiving, contrition, forgiveness of sins, protection, purity
Jacopo de' Barbari, The Guardian Angel, about 1509. Art Institute of Chicago.
WHEN at night I lay me down,
God’s protecting love I own;
Heart and hands to Him I raise,
For His gifts I give Him praise.
Forgive me, Lord, for Thy dear Son,
The ills that I this day have done;
And let His cross—my refuge sure—
Preserve my soul from thoughts impure;
May holy angels, while I sleep,
Their watchful guard around me keep.
WITH my whole heart I thank Thee, most holy triune God, at the close of this day, for all the favors both temporal and spiritual which in my whole life I have received from Thy great bounty.
But alas, how unworthy, how insignificant are any thanks that I can offer to Thee, Who art infinitely holy! Have I not, despite all the benefits I have received from Thee, repeatedly offended against Thee, both this and every day of my life?
(Here pause and examine your conscience.)
Yes, I have sinned against Heaven and before Thee, O my God. Look mercifully, I beseech Thee, on the contrition of my heart, and forgive Thy erring child. I will endeavor seriously to amend. Oh, grant me the assistance of Thy grace! I am truly sorry for having sinned, because Thou art infinitely good and sin displeases Thee.
Now I lay me down to rest beneath the shelter of Thy almighty protection. Preserve me, kindest of fathers, from all evil this night, and let me awake safe and sound to-morrow morning, to serve Thee with fresh courage, fresh zeal.
Most blessed Virgin Mary, my angel guardian, all ye saints of heaven, and especially you, my patron saint, vouchsafe to intercede for me and watch over me during the coming night. Amen.
May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.
Our Father; Hail Mary; Glory, etc.; Sacred Heart of Jesus, burning with love for us, inflame our hearts with love of Thee!
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary.