Free daily prayer guide
Traditional Catholic Night Prayers
Close the day by thanking God for His gifts, acknowledging your sins, and entrusting the night to His care. The Evening Act of Contrition and the Night Prayer by St. Alphonsus Liguori are reproduced from With God (1911).
When to use it: At the end of the day, before going to sleep.
A short beginning
For a short night prayer, begin with the Night Prayer by St. Alphonsus. It brings together thanksgiving, an offering of your sleep, and trust in God.
The suggested arrangement and explanations are by Novena Regina. The historical prayer texts are kept separate and have their sources shown below. No account or payment is needed.
Give thanks and examine your conscience
Briefly recall the day. Thank God for His gifts, acknowledge where you sinned, and ask for grace to amend your life. Keep this a preparation for prayer, not a long list of every detail.
Section 1 of 3
Make an act of contrition
Express sorrow for offending God and a sincere resolve, with His help, to avoid sin and its occasions.
Evening Act of Contrition
O my God, I am truly sorry for having sinned, because Thou art infinitely good and sin displeases Thee. I am firmly resolved, with the help of Thy grace, never more to offend Thee, and I will carefully avoid the occasions of sin.
Source: With God: A Book of Prayers and Reflections (1911), Francis Xavier Lasance, page 142.
Section 2 of 3
Entrust the night to God
Pray the Night Prayer by St. Alphonsus Liguori, as printed on page 145 of With God (1911). It places the night under God’s care, invokes the protection of Our Lady, and asks the help of the holy angels.
A Night Prayer by St. Alphonsus Liguori
Jesus Christ, my God, I adore Thee and I thank Thee for all the graces Thou hast bestowed on me this day. I offer to Thee my sleep and every moment of this night, and I beseech Thee to keep me free from sin. To secure this I place myself within Thy sacred side and under the protecting mantle of Our Lady, my Mother. May Thy holy angels help me and keep me in peace, and may Thy blessing be upon me.
Source: With God: A Book of Prayers and Reflections (1911), Francis Xavier Lasance, page 145.
Section 3 of 3
Questions about this guide
Is this the same as Compline?
No. This is a short selection for personal evening devotion. Compline is an office of the Church’s daily liturgical prayer with its own order and texts.
Does an evening act of contrition replace Confession?
No. It is a prayer of sorrow and amendment, not the sacrament of Penance. Use the confession guide when preparing to confess and ask your priest about your circumstances.
Can I remember the departed in night prayer?
Yes. You can add Eternal Rest or the De Profundis when praying for the faithful departed. Both are linked below.
Sources and prayer texts
These prayers come from the sources named beside each text. The guide’s arrangement is an editorial selection, not a claim that the whole sequence appears as one service in the original book.
- With God: A Book of Prayers and Reflections (1911), Francis Xavier Lasance.