Verses on Various Occasions · Chapter
Compline explained
A prayer for protection during the night, asking God to guard the sleeper from evil dreams and spiritual foes, and invoking the Trinity's grace.
What happens
A prayer for protection during the night, asking God to guard the sleeper from evil dreams and spiritual foes, and invoking the Trinity's grace.
Themes in this chapter
Faith and Doubt
The prayer expresses trust in divine protection against the uncertainties and spiritual dangers of the night.
The Church and Tradition
The use of the Compline hymn reflects the liturgical tradition of the Church's daily prayer cycle.
Characters to notice
- Father, Son, and Paraclete
Invoked as the Eternal Three in One to bestow grace and protection.
- Lord
Addressed as Maker of the world, asked to watch over the bed and keep the sleeper pure.
Key passages
“Now that the day-light dies away, By all Thy grace and love, Thee, Maker of the world, we pray To watch our bed above.”
As daylight fades, we ask the Creator, in His grace and love, to guard our sleep.
Opening petition for nightly protection.
“Let dreams depart and phantoms fly, The offspring of the night, Keep us, like shrines, beneath Thine eye, Pure in our foe’s despite.”
May evil dreams and night terrors vanish; keep us holy and undefiled under Your watch, even in the presence of our enemy.
Request for purity and safety from spiritual harm.
“This grace on Thy redeem’d confer, Father, Co-equal Son, And Holy Ghost, the Comforter, Eternal Three in One.”
Grant this blessing to Your redeemed people, O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God forever.
Trinitarian doxology concluding the prayer.