How we end the day matters just as much as how we begin it. Going to bed dragging along the day's haste, resentments, or worries leaves a residue that even sleep cannot wash away. That is why the Church, from ancient times, closes each day with a night prayer: a brief moment to review what has been lived, ask for forgiveness, give thanks, and place rest—and our entire life—into God's hands. How should we pray at the end of the day to sleep in peace?
Historical Context: Night Prayer, the Prayer with Which the Church Falls Asleep
The night prayer par excellence in the Church is the Hour of Compline (from the Latin completorium, "that which completes"): the final prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours, just before sleep. It has a simple and very wise structure: an examination of conscience and act of contrition, a psalm of trust—often Psalm 91—, the Nunc Dimittis («Lord, now you let your servant go in peace according to your word», Luke 2:29), and, at the end, an antiphon to the Blessed Virgin, such as the Salve Regina.
Behind this custom lies a deep intuition: sleep is a small image of death. Each night we "surrender" our consciousness, let go of control, and abandon ourselves. That is why night prayer is, at its root, an act of trust: echoing what Jesus said on the cross, «Father, into your hands I commend my spirit» (Luke 23:46; cf. Psalm 31:5). Whoever learns to fall asleep in this way also learns to die in peace.
It is not necessary to pray all of Compline to make it a night prayer. It is enough to gather its essential elements—gratitude, forgiveness, and abandonment—in a few minutes before turning off the light.
A Night Prayer
This prayer captures the essence of nocturnal prayer:
Señor, al terminar este día, te doy gracias por todo lo bueno que me has dado. Te pido perdón por mis faltas: por lo que hice mal y por el bien que dejé de hacer. Perdono de corazón a quien me haya ofendido hoy. Cuida esta noche a mi familia, a los que sufren, a los enfermos y a los que están solos. Aleja de mí todo mal y concédeme un descanso en tu paz. En tus manos, Señor, encomiendo mi espíritu; vela tú mi sueño y despiértame mañana para amarte y servirte mejor. María, Madre mía, ruega por mí esta noche. Amén.
We do not reproduce here the official version of this prayer in your language because we are not certain of it; this is the Spanish text. The Latin original, which is common to all languages, appears below.
The Latin Original
The responsory of Compline, taken from Psalm 31 and repeated by Christ on the cross.
In manus tuas, Dómine, comméndo spíritum meum.
Reflection and Meaning: Closing the Day with God
Night prayer has three simple movements—looking back, reconciling, and letting go—that order the heart before rest.
Reviewing the Day with Gratitude, Not Anxiety
The first step is to look at the day that is ending. But not to torture oneself, rather to give thanks: what good have I received today? This "grateful re-reading" of the day—so cherished by Saint Ignatius in his examination—changes the perspective: we discover that, even on difficult days, God has been present. Gratitude before sleep is an antidote to bitterness.
Asking for Forgiveness and Forgiving
«Do not let the sun go down on your anger», Saint Paul urges (Ephesians 4:26). Night prayer is the moment to settle accounts with God and with others: acknowledging one's own faults without drama and, above all, forgiving anyone who has hurt us during the day. Going to bed reconciled, without harboring resentments, is one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves. The sleep of a peaceful heart is very different from that of a burdened one.
«Into Your Hands I Commend My Spirit»
The final gesture is letting go. During the day we try to control everything; when sleeping, we control nothing. Night prayer turns that loss of control into an act of faith: leaving the day, the unresolved problems, and the uncertain tomorrow in the hands of a Father who watches while we sleep. «In peace I will lie down and immediately sleep, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety» (Psalm 4:8).
A Prayer for Today
Some people pray for a few minutes sitting on the bed, some share it as a family with their children, others can only manage to say «into your hands, Lord». What matters is not the length, but the constancy: turning the end of the day into an encounter, not a collapse. Whoever learns to fall asleep in the hands of God rests differently, because they no longer carry the weight of the day or the fear of tomorrow alone.
The Same Words Christ Spoke When Dying
The heart of Compline is a verse from Psalm 31 that the Church repeats every night: «into your hands I commend my spirit». This is no ordinary phrase. These are Jesus' last words on the cross according to Luke.
Sal 31, 6
That coincidence gives Compline its full meaning: going to bed is prayed as a little death, and waking up as a little resurrection. That is why the hour includes an examination of conscience at the beginning and ends with an antiphon to the Blessed Virgin, like someone locking the house before going to sleep.
What Compline Contains
- Examination of conscience and penitential act, at the beginning.
- A psalm of trust: Psalm 91 on Sundays, Psalms 4 and 134 on other days.
- The responsory «into your hands I commend my spirit».
- The Nunc Dimittis («Lord, now you let your servant go in peace»).
- A final Marian antiphon, the Salve Regina among them.
You might also be interested in morning prayer, Psalm 91, the act of contrition.
In the store: custom candle holders.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Compline?
The final hour of the Liturgy of the Hours, prayed before sleep. "Compline" because it completes the day.
Why is «into your hands I commend my spirit» prayed?
It is the verse from Psalm 31 that Jesus pronounces at his death according to Luke. Going to bed is prayed as a little death, which is why the Church repeats it every night.
Is the Liturgy of the Hours book necessary?
It helps, but it is not essential: the outline is short and stable. Examination, psalm, responsory, Nunc Dimittis, and antiphon to the Blessed Virgin.
Can it be prayed without being a religious or a priest?
Yes. The Liturgy of the Hours is the prayer of the whole Church, and Compline is the hour most frequently prayed by the laity because it is brief and takes place at night.
Sources
- Sacred Scripture: Luke 23:46; Luke 2:29-32; Psalm 31:5; Psalm 4:8; Ephesians 4:26.
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, nos. 2659, 2698 (the times of prayer).
- Liturgy of the Hours, Compline; Ignatian daily examen.
About the Author
This article is part of "Christian Prayers and Devotions", the series by Productos Religiosos dedicated to rediscovering the treasure of Catholic prayer. We write from faith and with rigor, always turning to Scripture, the Catechism, and the living tradition of the Church, so that every prayer may once again be what it has always been: an encounter with God.
0 comments