Street of First Doctrine
53. What Is Night Prayer?
Street of First Doctrine: first Catholic doctrine for souls learning how to believe, pray, and live.
"I will think of thee upon my bed: I will meditate on thee in the morning." - Psalm 62:7
Night prayer is the prayer by which a Catholic returns the day to God before sleep. The soul gives thanks, examines , asks pardon for sin, entrusts itself to God, and prepares for death by ending the day in , repentance, and trust.
The catechism answer is simple: Night prayer is the evening prayer by which the soul thanks God, examines the day, repents of sin, asks protection through the night, and prepares to meet God if death should come before morning.
The beginner needs this because the day should not simply collapse into sleep. It should be judged, repented of, thanked for, and placed back into God's hands.
The question is not, "Am I too tired to pray?" It is, "Can I end the day without returning to God?"
Sleep is a small image of death. The soul lies down, loses command of its senses, and does not know with certainty that it will rise again. This should not make the Catholic anxious. It should make him sober.
A Christian should end the day as a child returning to his Father.
Night prayer should begin with thanksgiving.
God gave the day. He preserved life, gave food, offered graces, permitted duties, restrained evils, and called the soul again to Himself. Even a difficult day contains reasons for gratitude.
The beginner should learn to thank God simply: for life, faith, protection, food, family, work, correction, mercy, and any received.
Thanksgiving protects the soul from bitterness.
Night prayer should include examination of .
The soul should look back over the day before God. This does not mean anxious digging for every possible fault. It means honest review: Did I pray? Did I do my duty? Did I sin by thought, word, deed, or ? Did I neglect ? Did I waste time? Did I guard and ? Did I consent to anger, vanity, , laziness, or falsehood?
The examination should be brief, honest, and concrete.
A soul that never examines itself becomes careless. A soul that examines itself with becomes more ready for confession, , and death.
After examining the day, the soul should make an act of .
means sorrow for sin because sin offends God. It should include hatred of sin, purpose of , and desire for confession when has been committed.
The beginner should not hide from God after falling. He should repent at once. Shame should lead to , not silence. The soul should say plainly: "O my God, I am sorry for having offended Thee."
No Catholic should go to sleep deliberately at peace with .
Night prayer should ask protection through the night.
The soul should ask God to guard body and soul, preserve , protect the home, keep away evil, and give to rise again in His service.
Our Lady should be invoked with confidence. The Hail Mary teaches the soul to ask her prayers "now and at the hour of our death." Night prayer naturally remembers that hour because sleep reminds the soul that life is fragile.
The guardian angel should also be remembered. God gives His angels charge over those who fear Him.
Night prayer helps prepare for death.
This does not mean the soul must end every day in fear. It means the soul should live truthfully. Death will come. Judgment will come. A Catholic should not wait until the final hour to learn repentance.
The night prayer asks: If I were called tonight, would I want this day to be my last? Is there sin I refuse to repent of? Is there hatred I cling to? Is there I must make? Is there confession I need?
This sobriety is a mercy. It keeps the soul awake while there is still time.
A beginner may use a simple night prayer:
O my God, I thank Thee for all Thy benefits today. Forgive me for my sins and negligences. I am sorry for having offended Thee, because Thou art infinitely good and worthy of all my love. Protect me this night. Keep me from sin. If I should die before morning, receive me in Thy mercy. Blessed Mother, pray for me now and at the hour of my death. Amen.
The soul may also say the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, Act of , and the prayer to the guardian angel.
Better a short night prayer said faithfully than a long rule abandoned through discouragement.
Some days end badly.
The soul may be ashamed, angry, tired, distracted, or discouraged. It may have fallen into sin. It may have neglected prayer. It may feel unworthy to speak to God.
That is exactly when night prayer is needed.
The Catholic does not return to God because he has had a perfect day. He returns because God is Father, Christ is Redeemer, and is still offered to the contrite.
Night prayer is especially important in the home.
Parents should teach children to end the day with God. Husband and wife should not let the home end in noise, screens, irritation, and forgetfulness of eternity. Even a short family prayer can place the home beneath God's protection.
The little flock must guard the home carefully. If Catholic homes do not learn to pray at night, the world will claim the last thoughts of the day.
The soul must learn to return the day to God.
The soul must learn thanksgiving, examination, , and trust.
The soul must learn not to sleep willingly in .
The soul must learn to ask help from Our Lady and the guardian angel.
The soul must learn that every night is practice for a holy death.
Night prayer is the evening prayer by which the soul thanks God, examines the day, repents of sin, asks protection through the night, and prepares to meet God if death should come before morning.
A beginner should ask: Do I thank God before sleep? Do I examine the day honestly? Do I make an act of ? Do I ask Our Lady to pray for me now and at the hour of death? Do I remember that I must one day meet God?
The Catholic day should end in truth. The soul that returns to God each night learns to live ready for the final summons.