COMPLINE

Booklet for night time prayers

LATIN - ENGLISH
Brandt Family
Night time prayers as said by the Brandt Family in 2009.
Cover illustration by Christopher Brandt.
Angelus illustration by Patrick Brandt.
Back cover illustration by Anthony Brandt.
Elegant typesetting from a Compline booklet by Elie Roux.
Clumsy typesetting by Veronica Brandt.
Set in Libertine using LuaLATEX.
Ornaments from gregorio: http://home.gna.org/gregorio.
Front initial from Incunitials by Manfred Klein 2002.
 COMPLINE
Night time prayers are said before bed where a bed time story is
usually read and holy water sprinkled on hands and heads. Prayers
for a peaceful night till morning will bring morning prayers.

We prepare for night time prayers by lighting candles, distributing booklets

and rosary beads. The cantor works out what day it is.

Cantor begins :
Jube, Domne, benedícere. Pray, father, a blessing.

The prayer asking for a blessing :

N Noctem quiétam et finem N A quiet night and a per-
perféctum concédat nobis Dómi- fect end, grant unto us almighty
nus omnípotens. Lord.
M Amen. M Amen.

Lectio brevis — I. Petr. 5, 8-9.

ratres, sóbrii estóte, et
F vigiláte: quia adversárius
vester diábolus tamquam leo
rúgiens círcuit, quærens quem
dévoret: cui resístite fortes in
fide. Tu autem, Dómine, mis-
erére nobis.
M Deo grátias.
rethren, be sober and
B watchful, for your adver-
sary the devil goes about like a
roaring lion seeking whom he
may devour. Resist him, stead-
fast in faith. But, Thou, O Lord,
have mercy on us.
M Thanks be to God.
4 Compline

N T Adjutórium nostrum in N T Our help is in the name

nómine Dómini. of the Lord.
M Qui fecit cælum et terram. M Who hath made heaven
and earth.

There is a brief pause for a cursory examination of conscience.

All confess :
onfíteor Deo om-
C nipoténti, beátæ Maríæ
semper Vírgini, beáto Michaéli blessed Michael the Archangel,
Archángelo, beáto Joánni Bap-
tístæ, sanctis Apóstolis Petro
et Paulo, et ómnibus Sanctis:
quia peccávi nimis cogita-
tióne, verbo et ópere: mea
culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima
culpa. Ideo precor beátam Ma-
ríam semper Vírginem, beátum
Michaélem Archángelum,
beátum Joánnem Baptístam,
sanctos Apóstolos Petrum et
Paulum, et omnes Sanctos,
oráre pro me ad Dóminum
Deum nostrum.
confess to almighty God,
I blessed Mary every Virgin,
blessed John the Baptist, the
holy Apostles Peter and Paul
and all the saints, that Ihave
sinned exceedingly in thought,
word and deed. Through
my fault, through my fault,
through my most grievous
fault. Therefore I bessech
blessed Mary ever Virgin,
blessed Michael the Archangel,
blessed John the Baptist, the
holy Apostles Peter and Paul
and all the saints to pray for me
to the Lord our God.

The cantor responds :

isereátur nostri omní-
M potens Deus, et, dimíssis
peccátis nostris, perdúcat nos
ad vitam ætérnam.
M Amen.
ay almighty God have
M mercy on us, forgive us
our sins and bring us to ever-
lasting life.
M Amen.
 Compline 5

ndulgéntiam T, absolutió- ay T the almighty and

I nem, et remissiónem pecca-
tórum nostrórum tríbuat nobis
omnípotens et miséricors Dó-
minus.
M Amen.
M merciful Lord grant us
pardon, remission and absolu-
tion of our sins.
M Amen.

After the absolution :

N Convérte nos, Deus, salutá-
ris noster.
M Et avérte iram tuam a no-
bis.
N T Deus, in adjutórium
meum inténde.
N Convert us, God, our
saviour.
M And avert your anger
from us.
N T O God, come to my aid.

M Dómine, ad adjuvándum M O Lord, make haste to

me festína.
Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirí-
tui Sancto. Sicut erat in princí-
pio, et nunc et semper, et in
sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.
Allelúia.
In Septuagesima and Lent the Alleluia is replaced by :
Laus tibi Dómine, Rex ætér-
næ glóriæ.
help me.
Glory be to the Father, and
the Son and the Holy Spirit. As
it was in the beginning, is now
and ever shall be, world with-
out end. Amen.
Alleluia.
Praise to Thee O Lord, King
of endless glory.
6 Compline

Prayers ad libitum
This part of night time prayers is said in the vernacular.

Each takes a turn to say thankyou to God for particular blessings

received that day.
Then each invokes God’s blessing on another concluding with :
Benedícat Deus ómnium God bless everybody.

All recite the prayer to one’s guardian angel.

ngele Dei, ngel of God,
A qui custos es mei, A my guardian dear,
me, tibi commíssum pietáte to whom God’s love commits
supérna; me here,
Hodie illúmina, custódi, ever this day be at my side,
rege et gubérna. to light and guard,
to rule and guide.
Amen. Amen.

S
 Compline
Concluding prayers
N Domine, exáudi oratió-
nem meam.
M Et clamor meus ad te vé-
niat.
Orémus.
ísita, quǽsumus Dómine,
V habitatiónem istam, et
omnes insídias inimíci ab ea
longe repélle: Angeli tui sancti
hábitent in ea, qui nos in
pace custódiant: et benedíc-
tio tua sit super nos semper.
Per Dóminum nostrum Jesum
Christum fílium tuum: qui
tecum vivit et regnat in unitate
Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia
sǽcula sæculórum.
M Amen.
N Domine, exáudi oratió-
nem meam.
M Et clamor meus ad te vé-
niat.
N Benedicámus Dómino.
M Deo grátias.
7
N O Lord, hear my prayer.
M And let my cry come unto
Thee.
Let us pray.
isit this house, O Lord, we
V pray, and keep the devil’s
wily influence far away from it.
Let Thy holy angels dwell here
instead, to guard us in peace.
And let Thy blessing rest upon
us always. We ask this through
our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives
and reigns with Thee in the
unity of the Holy Ghost, for
ever and ever.
M Amen.
N O Lord, hear my prayer.
M And let my cry come unto
Thee.
N Let us bless the Lord.
M Thanks be to God.
8 Compline

The cantor gives the benediction for the night.

enedícat et custódiat nos
B omnípotens et miséricors
Dóminus, T Pater, et Fílius, et
Spíritus Sanctus.
M Amen.
ay the almighty and mer-
M ciful Lord bless and keep
us, the Father, the Son and the
Holy Ghost.
M Amen.

Marian Antiphons
A marian antiphon comes next, varying according to the time of year.
For the Saturday before the rst Sunday of Advent to the rst of
February:
lma Redemptóris Mater, oving Mother of the Re-
A quæ pérvia cæli Porta
manes,
L deemer, open door to
heaven,
Et stella maris, succúrre ca- And star of the sea, come
dénti Súrgere qui curat pópulo: quickly to help your people,
fallen but struggling to rise.
Tu quæ genuísti, Natúra Thou who gave birth to thy
miránte, tuum sanctum Gen- own creator, while nature mar-
itórem: velled,
Virgo prius ac postérius, Ga- Virgin before and after, re-
briélis ab ore Sumens illud Ave, ceiving Gabriel’s Greeting ‘Ave’,
peccatórum miserére. have mercy on sinners.
 Compline 9

The verse and prayer for during Advent :

N Angelus Dómini nun-
tiávit Maríæ.
M Et concépit de Spíritu
Sancto.
Orémus.
rátiam tuam, quǽsumus
G Dómine, méntibus nos-
tris infúnde: ut qui, Angelo
nuntiánte, Christi Fílii tui In-
carnatiónem cognóvimus, per
passiónem ejus et crucem ad
resurrectiónis glóriam perducá-
mur. Per eúmdem Christum
Dóminum nostrum.
M Amen.
N Divínum auxílium máneat
semper nobíscum.
M Et cum frátribus nostris
abséntibus. Amen.
A decade of the rosary for the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter follows.
Then candles are blown out and children proceed to bed.
N The angel of the Lord de-
clared unto Mary.
M And she conceived by the
Holy Spirit.
Let us pray.
our forth we beseech Thee
P O Lord, Thy grace into our
hearts, that we to whom the
incarnation of Christ Thy Son
was made known by the mes-
sage of an angel, may by His
Passion and Cross be brought
to the glory of His Resurrec-
tion. Through the same Christ
our Lord.
M Amen.
N May the divine assistance
remain always with us.
M And with our absent brethren.
Amen.

The verse and prayer for Christmas time :

N Post partum, Virgo, invio- N Even after birth, thou re-
láta permansísti. mained a pure Virgin.
M Dei Génitrix, intercéde M Mother of God, intercede
pro nobis. for us.
10 Compline

Orémus. Let us pray.

eus, qui salútis ætérnæ, God, who by the fruitful
D beátæ Maríæ virginitáte
fecúnda, humáno géneri
O virginity of the blessed
Virgin Mary gave the human
praémia præstitísti: tríbue, race the graces of eternal life:
quǽsumus; ut ipsam pro nobis grant, we beg of Thee to let
intercédere sentiámus, per us know the intercession of the
quam merúimus auctórem vitae one through whom we received
suscípere, Dóminum nostrum the author of life, Jesus Christ,
Jesum Christum Fílium tuum. Thy Son, our Lord.
M Amen. M Amen.
N Divínum auxílium máneat N May the divine assistance
semper nobíscum. remain always with us.
M Et cum frátribus nostris M And with our absent brethren.
abséntibus. Amen. Amen.
A decade of the rosary for the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter follows.
Then candles are blown out and children proceed to bed.
From the second of February to Holy Saturday :
ve Regína cælórum, ail Queen of heaven,
A Ave Dómina Angelórum:
Salve Radix, salve Porta,
H Hail, Lady of the Angels.
Hail, O Root, hail O Gate through
Ex qua mundo lux est orta: whom light has come into the
Gaude, Virgo gloriósa, world. Rejoice, O glorious Vir-
Super omnes speciósa, gin of surpassing beauty. Good
Vale o valde decóra, night, lovely one and pray for
Et pro nobis Christum exóra. us to Christ.

N Dignáre me laudáre te, N Enable me to praise thee,

Virgo sacráta. O holy Virgin.
M Da mihi virtútem contra M Give me strength against
hostes tuos. thy enemies.
 Compline 11

Orémus. Let us pray.

oncéde, miséricors Deus, rant, merciful God, sup-
C fragilitáti nostræ præsí-
dium: ut qui sanctæ Dei Geni-
G port in our weakness,
that we who keep the memory
trícis memóriam ágimus, inter- of the holy Mother of God may,
cessiónis ejus auxílio, a nostris by the help of her intercession,
iniquitátibus resurgámus. Per be enabled to arise from our
eúmdem Christum Dóminum sins. Through the same Christ
nostrum. our Lord.
M Amen. M Amen.
N Divínum auxílium máneat N May the divine assistance
semper nobíscum. remain always with us.
M Et cum frátribus nostris M And with our absent brethren.
abséntibus. Amen. Amen.
A decade of the rosary for the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter follows.
Then candles are blown out and children proceed to bed.

From Easter Sunday to Friday in the octave of Pentecost :

egína cæli lætáre, allelúia, Queen of heaven rejoice,

R O alleluia,
Quia quem meruísti portáre, al- For He whom thou didst merit
lelúia, to bear, alleluia,
Resurréxit, sicut dixit, allelúia, Is risen as He said, alleluia,

Ora pro nobis Deum, allelúia. Pray for us to God, alleluia.

N Gaude et lætáre, Virgo N Rejoice and be glad, O

María, allelúia. Virgin Mary, alleluia.
M Quia surrexit Dóminus M For the Lord is truly risen,
vere, allelúia. alleluia.
12
Orémus.
eus, qui per resurrec-
D tiónem Fílii tui Dómini
nostri Jesu Christi mundum
lætificáre dignátus es: præsta,
quǽsumus; ut per ejus Gen-
itrícem Vírginem Maríam,
perpétuæ capiámus gáudia
vitæ. Per eúmdem Christum
Dóminum nostrum.
M Amen.
N Divínum auxílium máneat
semper nobíscum.
M Et cum frátribus nostris
abséntibus. Amen.
A decade of the rosary for the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter follows.
Then candles are blown out and children proceed to bed.
From the Saturday before Trinity Sunday to the Saturday before the
rst Sunday of Advent :
alve Regína, mater mise-
S ricórdiæ, Vita, dulcédo, et
spes nostra, salve.
Ad te clamámus, éxsules,
fílii Hevæ.
Ad te suspirámus, geméntes
et flentes in hac lacrimárum
valle.
Eja ergo, Advocáta nostra,
illos tuos misericórdes óculos
ad nos convérte.
Compline
Let us pray.
God, who has brought
O joy to the world through
the resurrection of Thy Son, our
Lord Jesus Christ. Grant, we
beseech Thee that through the
intercession of his Mother the
Virgin Mary we may lay hold
of the joys of life everlasting.
Through the same Christ our
Lord.
M Amen.
N May the divine assistance
remain always with us.
M And with our absent brethren.
Amen.
ail holy Queen, mother of
H mercy. Hail, our life, our
sweetness and our hope.
To thee do we cry, poor ban-
ished children of Eve.
To thee do we send up our
sighs, mourning nd weeping in
this valley of tears.
Turn then, most gracious ad-
vocate, thine eyes of mercy to-
wards us.
 Compline
Et Jesum, benedíctum fruc-
tum ventris tui, nobis post hoc
exsílium osténde.
O clemens, O pia, O dulcis
Virgo Maria.
N Ora pro nobis, Sancta Dei
Génitrix.
M Ut digni efficiámur promis-
siónibus Christi.
Orémus.
mnípotens sempitérne
O Deus, qui gloriósæ Vír-
ginis Matris Maríæ corpus et
ánimam, ut dignum Fílii tui
habitáculum éffici mererétur,
Spíritu Sancto cooperánte
præparásti: da, ut cujus com-
memoratióne lætámur, ejus pia
intercessióne ab instántibus
malis et a morte perpétua
liberémur. Per eúndem Chris-
tum Dóminum nostrum.
M Amen.
N Divínum auxílium máneat
semper nobíscum.
M Et cum frátribus nostris
abséntibus. Amen.
A decade of the rosary for the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter follows.
Then candles are blown out and children proceed to bed.
S
13
And after this our exile,
show unto us the blessed fruit
of thy womb, Jesus
O clement, O loving, O sweet
virgin Mary.
N Pray for us, O holy Mother
of God.
M That we may be made
worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray.
ll powerful and eternal
A God, who prepared the
body and soul of the glorious
Virgin Mother Mary by the co-
operation of the Holy Spirit as a
worthy dwelling place for Thy
Son; grant that she whom we
rejoice to commemorate may
intercede to protect us from
present evils and free us from
eternal death. Through the
same Christ our Lord.
M Amen.
N May the divine assistance
remain always with us.
M And with our absent brethren.
Amen.
14 Compline

Angélus
The Angelus is a wonderful prayer though we don’t usually recite it
at night. Nevertheless it seems good to have it remain in the booklet.
N Angelus Dómini nunti- N The angel of the Lord de-
avit Mariæ. clared unto Mary.
M Et concepit de Spiritu M And she conceived by the
Sancto. Holy Ghost.
N Ave María, grátia plena; N Hail Mary, full of grace;
Dóminus tecum: benedícta tu the Lord is with thee: blessed
in muliéribus, et benedíctus art thou among women and
fructus ventris tui Jesus. blessed is the fruit of thy womb,
Jesus.
M Sancta María, Mater Dei, M Holy Mary, Mother of
ora pro nobis peccatóribus, nunc God, pray for us sinners, now
et in hora mortis nostræ. Amen. and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
N Ecce ancílla Dómini. N Behold the handmaid of
the Lord.
M Fiat mihi secúndum ver- M Be it done unto me ac-
bum tuum. cording to Thy word.
Ave Maria. . . Hail Mary. . .
N Et Verbum caro factum N And the Word was made
est. flesh.
M Et habitávit in nobis. M And dwelt amongst us.
Ave Maria. . . Hail Mary. . .
N Ora pro nobis, Sancta Dei N Pray for us, O holy Mother
Génitrix. of God.
M Ut digni efficiámur promis- M That we may be made
siónibus Christi. worthy of the promises of Christ.
 Compline
Orémus.
rátiam tuam, quǽsumus
G Dómine, méntibus nos-
tris infúnde: ut qui, Angelo
nuntiánte, Christi Fílii tui In-
carnatiónem cognóvimus, per
passiónem ejus et crucem ad
resurrectiónis glóriam perducá-
mur. Per eúmdem Christum
Dóminum nostrum.
M Amen.
15
Let us pray.
our forth we beseech Thee
P O Lord, Thy grace into our
hearts, that we to whom the
incarnation of Christ Thy Son
was made known by the mes-
sage of an angel, may by His
Passion and Cross be brought
to the glory of His Resurrec-
tion. Through the same Christ
our Lord.
M Amen.
This booklet is heavily modified from a beautifully rendered Latin-French booklet from the
gregorio examples. The following comes from the original work.
Ce livret a été écrit pour le monastère de Saint Benoît à Norcia (Italie) en 2008. Il est libre de
droit. Le fichier PDF ainsi que les sources LATEX peuvent être trouvées sur
http://home.gna.org/gregorio/.