Nighttime Prayer Routine

[DavidJoseph]

If you DO NOT pray Compline from the Liturgy of the Hours, then tell me what your nightly prayer routine is like. Please be more specific than just saying, for example, “I say several vocal prayers.” Thanks.

 

[Unfinished]

I usually ask for the intersession of the saints from a few of my favorites - St. Monica, St. Therese, St. Dwyn (Patron saint of lovers ) and St. Joseph. Just short little prayers here.

I thank my guardian angel for his protection.

Then I pray to the Holy Spirit. I always say the same prayer here, asking Him to…well, I will just type the prayer.

“O Holy Spirit of Truth, we beseech Thee to enlighten the minds of unbelievers in the midst of us, to incline their hearts to Thy word and to believe the teachings of Thy Church. Give them courage to accept the Faith and openly profess it; that they may come into union with Thee and the Father, through Christ our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth forever and ever. Amen” (I like to speak with non-Catholics as much as possible, I feel this prayer helps me do that, and to get more chances to speak with them)

Then I say the Rosary.

Then I pray to the Lord our God, Jesus Christ. I always ask to be shown His will, and have His will become mine. Then I pray for everyone I know who needs prayers. Then I usually just spend a little time with Him until I fall asleep.

And that is my nightly routine. I wish I could pray more in the mornings, it’s something I need to get into.

 

[Flopfoot]

“Now I lay me down to sleep,
pray the Lord my soul to keep
If I die before I wake,
pray the Lord my soul to take.”

I used to be able to do better than this quick prayer but these days can’t concentrate as much at night.

By the way, does anyone know where that prayer comes from and if it is actually okay to say?

 

[LilyM]

I never pray Compline - just Evening Prayer - though I may take it up.

Normally before I go to sleep (can be quite late, so I don’t always get around to it) I would do my examination of conscience anyways. Then I pray the Act of Contrition and the ‘Prayer for Daily Neglects’, a lovely short prayer I learned as a young’un. It goes as follows:

"Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Sacred Heart of Jesus, with all its love, all its sufferings and all its merits:

First — To expiate all the sins I have committed this day and during all my life. (Glory Be to the Father …)
Second — To purify the good I have done poorly this day and during all my life. (Glory Be to the Father …)
Third — To supply for the good I ought to have done, and that I have neglected this day and all my life. (Glory Be to the Father …)"

Then an evening offering, re-offering the days thoughts, words and actions and asking for pardon for any sins, protection for myself and my loved ones during the night.

Then possibly the Rosary or the Jesus prayer (‘Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God have mercy on me, a sinner’ - repeated as often as you like) to fall asleep with.

 

[LilyM]

“Now I lay me down to sleep,
pray the Lord my soul to keep
If I die before I wake,
pray the Lord my soul to take.”

I used to be able to do better than this quick prayer but these days can’t concentrate as much at night.

By the way, does anyone know where that prayer comes from and if it is actually okay to say?

Don’t know where the prayer comes from, but why would it not be OK to say? Not like you’re saying ‘Hail Satan’ or anything.

Millions of kids and adults who say it can’t be wrong

 

[RPConover]

Depending on how much time I have:

Divinee mercy chaplet, either 5 decades or 15 if time permits

Rosary if time permits (always trying to pray at least 20 decades a week, member of the confraternity)

St. Michael short exorcism prayer

prayers to the sacred heart

prayers for the souls in purgatory

prayers to Saints, lately especialy Saint Nicholas

and of course just simply speaking to God, which is something I do a lot during the day as well.

 

[puzzleannie]

Evening Prayer, with daily examen before the Our Father

review the events of the day
ask for the light of the Holy Spirit
pray from any of the feelings, events, or problems that arise
ask forgiveness for sins and ommissions
make a definite resolution for tomorrow
Our Father and concluding prayer.

If I wake up later (like now) night prayer and vigils -office of readings.

 

[Tietjen]

“Now I lay me down to sleep,
pray the Lord my soul to keep
If I die before I wake,
pray the Lord my soul to take.”

I used to be able to do better than this quick prayer but these days can’t concentrate as much at night.

By the way, does anyone know where that prayer comes from and if it is actually okay to say?

I hope so. I said it growing up and still say it today.