Night prayer to the Guardian Angel
At the end of the day, the Christian turns to his Guardian Angel to thank for the protection received throughout the hours, to examine the day (a quick examination of conscience), to ask pardon for the faults, and to entrust to his vigilance the hours of sleep — during which the soul is especially vulnerable to disturbing dreams, to thoughts on awakening, and — ultimately — to the possibility of death which can come at any hour. This night prayer accompanies the examination, the devotional confession for the light faults of the day, and the request for the Angel’s protection during sleep. It may be combined with the Nunc Dimittis (already in Liturgy of the Hours) which is the Canticle of Compline, and with the Te Lucis Ante Terminum (hymn of Compline, also in Liturgy of the Hours).
(Before falling asleep, kneel or recollect yourself before the Crucifix:)
Good night, my Holy Guardian Angel. Another day of the pilgrimage I make under your protection ends. I ask you, before falling asleep, to accept three things from my hands.
The first: my gratitude. Blessed are you, O Angel of the Lord, for each time today you kept me from a danger which I did not even perceive; for each time you suggested to my heart a good word, a just decision, a spontaneous prayer; for each time you defended me from the assaults of the evil one, in quick thoughts on which I did not even deliberate.
The second: my repentance. For the times when today I did not listen to you — when you suggested silence and I spoke ill; when you suggested to stop and I went on; when you suggested to forgive and I kept the anger. Present to the Father, before my sleep, this repentance, and — if the fault be grave — dispose everything that I may confess it to the confessor at the next sacramental Confession.
The third: my entrustment. I am about to fall asleep. Sleep, say the Fathers of the Church, is an image of death: he who falls asleep tonight has no certainty that he will wake tomorrow. Watch over me while I sleep. Defend me from disturbing dreams and from thoughts on awakening. If the Lord calls me tonight to eternity — without chance to call a priest — present my soul before the throne of the Father with this my final act of contrition: «My God, I love you above all things, I repent of all my sins, and I desire to die in your grace. Into your hands I commend my spirit» (cf. Lk 23:46).
Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God’s love commits me here: ever this day be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.