Night

I opened my window to the gentle rain
and said my prayers there.

At Compline or Night Prayer

Compline Explained

V. May Jesus Christ thy Son, reconciled by thy prayer, O Lady, convert our hearts.

R. And turn away His anger from us.

V. O Lady make speed to befriend me.
R. From the hands of the enemy powerfully defend me.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.  
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.  Amen. 

Alleluia. 

Hymn  

HAIL, Mother most pure, 

     Hail, Virgin renown'd; 

Hail, Queen with the stars
     As a diadem crown'd.

Above all the angels
     In glory untold,
Standing next to the King
     In a vesture of gold.

O Mother of mercy,
     O Star of the wave,

O Hope of the guilty,
     O light of the grave!

Through thee may we come
     To the haven of rest;
And see heaven's King
     In the courts of the blest!  Amen.

V. Thy name, O Mary, is as oil poured out.

R. Thy servants have loved thee exceedingly.

Let Us Pray. 

     O Holy Mary, Queen of heaven, Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, and Mistress of the world, who forsakest no one, and despises no one; look upon me, O Lady, with an eye of pity, and entreat for me, of thy beloved Son, the forgiveness of all my sins; that, as I now celebrate with devout affection THY HOLY AND IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, so hereafter, I may receive the prize of eternal blessedness, by the grace of Him whom thou, in virginity, didst bring forth, Jesus Christ our Lord; who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth, in perfect unity, God, world without end. Amen.  

THE COMMENDATION

These praises and prayers

     I lay at thy feet,

O Virgin of Virgins

      O Mary most sweet.

Be thou my true Guide

     Through this pilgrimage here;

And stand by my side 

     When death draweth near. 

     R. Thanks be to God.

Thou art all fair, O Mary:
And the original stain was never in thee.
Thou art the glory of Jerusalem:
Thou art the joy of Israel:
Thou art the honor of our people.
O Mary, O Mary,
Virgin most prudent,
Mother most clement,
Pray for us, Intercede for us, 
To Jesus Christ our Lord.

Ant. Thy Conception, O Virgin Mother of God, heralded joy to the whole world; for from thee came Christ, our God; who doing away with the curse brought us blessing, and putting death to confusion gave us the gift of ever lasting life. Amen.

Ant. This is the rod, wherein was neither the knot of original sin, nor the bark of actual sin.

       V. In thy conception, O Virgin, thou wast immaculate.

       R. Pray for us to the Father, whose Son thou didst bear.

Let us pray.

       O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of a Virgin didst make ready a meet dwelling for thy Son, we beseech thee that thou, who, foreseeing the death of that same Son of thine, didst keep her free from all stain, mayest suffer us also, with clean hearts, through her pleading, to come unto thee. Through the same Christ our Lord.

       R. Amen.