aeternus

A friend sent me this yesterday as part of a discussion on the Breviary. I believe it comes from an older source and I wish I could provide that information - sorry! The whole document was describing each hour of prayer. I thought I would share this lovely bit on Compline…

Compline is the Church’s second evening prayer, and as opposed to Vespers, it is a subjective and individual prayer for the sinful soul who wants to make her peace with God. The Hour is a masterpiece of construction, the work of St. Benedict.

The Hour begins without introduction, and at once halts for an examination of conscience and an act of contrition.

Night and darkness are frequent liturgical symbols for the sinister powers of hell. It is this night theme that sets the tone for all of Compline. In darkness we recognize the element of the devil; night is the cloak for the prince of this world. The child of God, being a creature of light, is afraid of the night. Like a tiny chick, he huddles beneath his mother’s wings; there he is safe from the attacks of the hawk, Satan. How many sins does not night cover with her thick black veil! The religious soul prays this night prayer for his own protection from the powers of darkness and for all souls everywhere.

Sleep, too, is a symbol, an image of death. Spontaneously we think of death when we go to sleep - Compline is also a night prayer to life, a plea for a happy death. The Hour expresses earnest petition; contrition, plea for protection, and deepest confidence. Two images of death come next; the first, Jesus hanging on the Cross and uttering His last words: “Father, into Your hands I commend My spirit.” We pray the very same words, repeatedly, from our heart. Another reference to death occurs in the canticle from the Gospel, old Simeon’s song. He holds the child Jesus in his hands, his dearest longing has just been fulfilled; he has seen the Redeemer and now he begs to be dismissed from his lifelong service to God. We too can pray to be dismissed from service; it is the night of rest that follows the day’s work. We are God’s hired laborers and we must be ready everyday to be dismissed by Him.

The antiphon to Simeon’s canticle is also very rich. Bodily and spiritual waking and sleeping intermingle: “Protect us Lord, while we are awake and safeguard us while we sleep (at night), that we may keep watch with Christ (in life through grace) and rest in peace (by a happy death).

So, Compline contains four points:

1. Visitation - God is invited to dwell with us by the presence of His grace and protection.

2. God is also the guardian of the citadel of our soul - He must be begged to keep its portals closed against enemies.

3. The angels, too, our guardian angels, are invited to dwell in this house.

4. May God’s paternal blessing be upon us all throughout the night.

Then our night prayer dies slowly away. A few verses, the blessing of our heavenly Father and parting words to our heavenly mother, Mary, through the Marian antiphons, and the “great silence” begins. AMEN!!!