Thursday Night Prayer

         INTRODUCTION V./ O God, come to our aid. R./ O Lord, make haste to help us. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.             EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE I confess to almighty God, to blessed Mary ever virgin, to blessed Dominic our father, to all the saints, and to you my brothers, that I have sinned exceedingly; by thought, word, deed and omission, through my fault: and I beseech you to pray for me.   V./ May Almighty God have Mercy on us, forgive us all our sins, and may He free us from all evil, keep us safe and strengthen us in every good work, and bring us to eternal life. R./ Amen.            HYMN Christ, the true light of us, true morn, Dispersing far the shades of night, Light whereof every light is born, Pledge of the beatific light,   Thou all the night our guardian be Whose watch no sleep or slumber knows; Thou be our peace, that stayed on thee Through darkness we may find repose.   Sleep then our eyes, but never sleep The watchful heaven-directed heart, And may thy hand in safety keep The servants whose desire thou art.   Look on us, thou, and at our side Our foes and thine repulse afar: Through every ill the faithful guide Who in thy blood redeemed are.   While soul within the body clings, Body and soul defend us, Lord. Sure in the shadow of thy wings, Kept in thy lasting watch and ward.            PSALMODY Ant. My body shall rest in safety.          Psalm 15(16) Preserve me, God, I take refuge in you.* I say to the Lord: ‘You are my God’. My happiness lies in your alone.   He has put into my heart a marvellous love for the faithful ones who dwell in his land. Those who choose other gods increase their sorrows.* Never will I offer their off'rings of blood. Never will I take their name upon my lips.   O Lord, it is you who are my portion and cup; it is you yourself who are my prize. The lot marked out for me is my delight: welcome indeed the heritage that falls to me!   I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel, who even at night directs my heart. I keep the Lord ever in my sight: since he is at my right hand, I shall stand firm.   And so my heart rejoices, my soul is glad; even my body shall rest in safety. For you will not leave my soul among the dead, nor let your beloved know decay.   You will show me the path of live,* the fullness of joy in your presence, at your right hand happiness for ever. Ant. My body shall rest in safety.            SCRIPTURE READING          I Thess 5,23 May the God who gives us peace make you completely his, and keep your whole being, spirit and soul, and body, free from all fault, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.            SHORT RESPONSORY In pace, in idipsum *Dormiam et requiescam. V./ Si dedero somnum oculis meis, et palpebris meis dormitationem, R./ Dormiam et requiescam. V./ Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. R./ In pace, in idipsum *Dormiam et requiescam.   [In peace and into the same I shall sleep and rest.? V./ If I give slumber to my eyes? and to my eyelids drowsiness, R./ I shall sleep and rest. V./ Glory to the Father, and to the Son,? and to the Holy Spirit. R./ In peace and into the same I shall sleep and rest.]            GOSPEL CANTICLE Ant.: Evigila super nos, æterne Salvator, ne nos apprehendat calidus tentator; quia tu factus es nobis sempiternus adjutor. [Watch over us, eternal Saviour, that the cunning tempter not lay hold of us: for you have been our helper forever.]            Nunc dimittis: Luke 2: 29-32 At last, all-powerful Master, you give leave to your servant to go in peace, according to your promise.   For my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared for all nations,   the light to enlighten the Gentiles and give glory to Israel, your people.   Glory be to the Father, and the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:   as it was ?in the beginning, is now, and? ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Ant.: Evigila super nos, æterne Salvator, ne nos apprehendat calidus tentator; quia tu factus es nobis sempiternus adjutor.            CONCLUDING PRAYER Lord, our God, restore us again by the repose of sleep after the fatigue of our daily work; so that, continually renewed by your help, we may serve you in body and soul. Through Christ our Lord. R./ Amen.            BLESSING V./ May the Lord grant us a quiet night and a perfect end. R./ Amen.            ANTHEM OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY Salve, Regina, Mater misericordiæ, vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve. Ad te clamamus exsules filii Hevæ, Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes in hac lacrimarum valle. Eia, ergo, advocata nostra, illos tuos misericordes oculos ad nos converte; Et Jesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui, nobis post hoc exsilium ostende. O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria.   [Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, hail our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us; and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.]            ANTHEM OF OUR HOLY FATHER ST DOMINIC O lumen Ecclesiæ, Doctor veritatis, Rosa patientiæ, Ebur castitatis, Aquam sapientiæ propinasti gratis: Prædicator gratiæ nos junge beatis.   [O light of the church, teacher of truth, rose of patience, ivory of chastity, You freely poured forth the waters of wisdom, preacher of grace unite us with the blessed.]