Praying into the Night

Many people find the morning, when they are newly awake and alert, as the best time for prayer. They are able to focus better before the activities of the day overtake them. By the time evening descends and the sun sets, they feel exhausted and without the desire or ability to focus their thoughts.

For others, time at night is when all the other voices and claims are finally quiet. They are able to carve out time for prayer. Prayers that are offered in the night have a different emphasis from those of the morning. They have the focus of relinquishing or letting go of the burdens of the day. The Book of Common Prayer (BCP) contains some of my favorite evening prayers. The following one is from the office of Compline.

Keep Watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for our love’s sake. Amen (BCP pg 127) 

In the section of Prayers found toward the back of the BCP is an evening prayer, written about 1876 based upon a sermon by John Henry Newman. It was first included in the BCP in 1928.

O Lord, support us all the day long, until the shadows lengthen, and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done. Then in thy mercy, grant us a safe lodging, and a holy rest, and peace at the last. Amen. (BCP pg 833) 

Last Sunday, during the service of Choral Evensong at the National Cathedral, this prayer was offered.

Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, creator of the changes of day and night, giving rest to the weary, renewing the strength of those who are spent, bestowing upon us occasions of song in the evening. As you have protected us in the day that is past, so be with us in the coming night; keep us from every sin, every evil, and every fear; for you are light and salvation, and the strength of our life. To you be glory for endless ages. Amen 

Recently while on retreat, I found myself awake during the night and I sought to pay attention to what the Holy Spirit might be saying to me in the hours of darkness. What people, what parts of my life, did I need to commend to God, and what in my life needed to be hushed and given a holy rest?

Fr. Showers