As Nighttime Falls

While an increasing number of parishes are celebrating Morning and Evening Prayer, these are but two elements of the Liturgy of the Hours, the church's official hours of prayer. Though the practice of marking the day through prayer precedes Christianity, the fifth-century Rule of St. Benedict provides a structure for the prayers. Compline is perhaps the easiest prayer to add to your daily prayer life as it takes place right before bedtime. As Nighttime Falls is an attempt to bring the richness of Compline Prayer to a wider audience. GIA Publications is happy to offer this resource of hymns, psalms, and prayers for Night Prayer. This release contains seven separate settings of Compline, one for each day of the week. Each prayer lasts about 15-20 minutes and includes an introduction, an examination of conscience, a hymn, psalmody, a scripture reading, a responsory, the Canticle of Simeon, a concluding prayer, and a blessing. Finally, each day concludes with the beautiful antiphon to the Blessed Virgin Mary, "Salve Regina." As Nighttime Falls can be prayed by an individual in solitude at the end of the day (after which, they go quietly to bed), but it may also be used by small groups and communities who wish to prayer together (after which, all depart in silence).