Ending the day with prayer is one of the oldest Catholic habits. This simple night prayer takes about five minutes: we thank God for the day, look honestly at our actions, ask forgiveness, and place ourselves in His care for the night.
A Simple Night Prayer
1. Begin with the Sign of the Cross
Make the Sign of the Cross.
2. Give Thanks
Take a moment to thank God for the gifts of the day, big and small: the people you met, the food you ate, the work you did, the moments of joy.
3. Examine Your Conscience
Look back on the day quietly and honestly. Ask yourself:
- When did I love God and others well today?
- When did I fail, in thought, word, deed, or by not doing good?
- What do I want to do better tomorrow?
4. Ask Forgiveness
Pray the Act of Contrition:
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because of Thy just punishments, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin. Amen.
5. Ask God's Protection for the Night
This traditional prayer has been prayed at the end of the day for centuries:
Visit, we beseech Thee, O Lord, this dwelling, and drive far from it all snares of the enemy; let Thy holy angels dwell herein to preserve us in peace; and may Thy blessing be upon us always; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
6. Entrust Yourself to the Holy Family
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I give you my heart and my soul. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, assist me in my last agony. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, may I breathe forth my soul in peace with you.
7. Pray to Mary and Your Guardian Angel
Pray one Hail Mary and the Guardian Angel Prayer.
8. End with the Sign of the Cross
Short on Time?
If you are very tired, even this is enough:
Into Thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
These are Jesus' words from the cross (Luke 23:46), prayed at the end of the day by the Church in her night prayer.
In Latin: The "Visita, Quaesumus"
Visita, quaesumus, Domine, habitationem istam, et omnes insidias inimici ab ea longe repelle; Angeli tui sancti habitent in ea, qui nos in pace custodiant; et benedictio tua sit super nos semper. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.
A Good Way to End the Day
Some families pray the Holy Rosary together at night, then finish with these prayers before sleep.