Commontide

Preparation for Personal Prayer

Holy Spirit, breath of God and fire of love, I cannot pray without your aid: Kindle in me the fire of your love, and illumine me with your light; that with a steadfast will and holy thoughts I may approach the Father in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who reigns with you and the Father in eternal union. Amen.

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Commontide
Blessing
Prayers

Compline

The almighty and merciful Lord, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless us and keep us, this night and evermore. Amen.

Benedícat et custódiat nos omnípotens et miséricors Dóminus, Pater, et Fílius, et Spíritus Sanctus.

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Original-language source · public domain

Provenance

Roman Breviary, medieval

Draft — AI-assisted research under editorial review.

The closing benediction of Compline reaches back to the oldest priestly prayer in Scripture, now cast in Trinitarian form. The Roman church placed this blessing at the end of every night office for centuries; Anglican Compline carried it into night prayer, naming the three persons of the Trinity as the one who guards us through the dark.