Night Prayers

 

The Church has always ended the day the way it began: with God. Before sleep, Catholics thank Him for the day, ask pardon for its failings, and place themselves, their families, and the faithful departed in His hands. Night prayers take only a few minutes, and they let you fall asleep at peace, as Simeon prayed, "Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word in peace" (Luke 2:29). Choose a few of the traditional prayers below and make them your bedtime routine.

 

A simple five-minute night routine

 

1. Make the Sign of the Cross and thank God for the day.

2. Look back over the day with the Evening Examination of Conscience.

3. Ask pardon with the Act of Contrition.

4. Entrust the night to your guardian angel with the Guardian Angel Evening Prayer.

5. Ask God to guard your home with the Prayer for Sleep, and pray Eternal Rest for the faithful departed.

 

More night prayers

 

• Nunc Dimittis (Canticle of Simeon), the Church's night canticle

• May He Support Us All the Day Long, by St. John Henry Newman

• Psalm 91, the Church's psalm of protection for Sunday night

• "Into Thy Hands", the last words of Jesus on the Cross, said every night in the Church's Night Prayer

• The Three Hail Marys Devotion, prayed morning and night

• Hail, Holy Queen, or the Regina Caeli in Eastertide, to end the day with Our Lady

• The De Profundis (Psalm 130), for the souls in purgatory

• Let Nothing Disturb Thee, for anxious nights

 

The Church's Night Prayer (Compline)

 

The last Hour of the Liturgy of the Hours is Night Prayer, also called Compline: a hymn, a psalm of trust, a short reading, the Nunc Dimittis, and an antiphon to Our Lady. Learn how to pray it, and where to find it free online, in our guide to the Liturgy of the Hours.

 

For children at bedtime

 

• Angel of God

• Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be

• A short "thank You, Jesus" for one good thing from the day

 

Browse more: Morning & Evening Prayers · Morning Prayers · Daily Prayer

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

What is a good Catholic prayer before bed?

 

A short examination of conscience followed by an Act of Contrition is the classic Catholic bedtime prayer. Add a prayer to your guardian angel and a Hail Mary, and you have prayed the traditional night prayers in about five minutes.

 

Use the Evening Examination of Conscience, the Act of Contrition, and the Guardian Angel Evening Prayer. The Prayer for Sleep is the Church's ancient night blessing of the home.

 

What should I pray when I can't sleep?

 

Pray something short and calm that you can repeat slowly, such as Psalm 91, the Prayer for Sleep, or the name of Jesus. Worry tends to grow at night, and a familiar prayer gives the mind somewhere to rest.

 

Let Nothing Disturb Thee, by St. Teresa of Avila, is a favorite for anxious nights, and a decade of the Rosary helps many people fall asleep in peace. For more, see Prayers for Anxiety, Fear and Hard Times. If sleeplessness goes on, talk with your doctor too.

 

What is Compline?

 

Compline, or Night Prayer, is the last Hour of the Church's Liturgy of the Hours, prayed just before bed. It takes about ten minutes and ends with the Nunc Dimittis, a blessing, and an antiphon to Our Lady.

 

You can pray it free online with Universalis, and our guide to the Liturgy of the Hours explains how to begin.

 

Should I say an Act of Contrition every night?

 

Yes, it is a very good habit. An Act of Contrition at the end of each day keeps your conscience tender and prepares you for confession.

 

It does not replace confession, but when contrition comes from love of God above all, it obtains forgiveness even of serious sin, provided it includes the firm resolution to go to confession as soon as possible (CCC 1452). See Confession Prayers to prepare.