The Little Book of the Most Holy Child Jesus/Night Prayers
NIGHT PRAYERS.
Place yourself in the presence of God.
✠ In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
My God, I believe that Thou art here, and seest all my heart. With my whole heart I adore Thee, and desire to love Thee.
I thank Thee for all Thy goodness to me through my past life, and especially during this day.
Give me grace to see how I have sinned against Thee to-day, and to be truly sorry for what I have done to offend Thee by thought, word, or deed, and also by leaving undone what I ought to have done.
A FEW HINTS IN EXAMINING YOUR CONSCIENCE.
Grievous Sins against the Commandments which relate directly to God.
Have you taken Almighty God's Name in vain; used bad, cursing, or swearing language; spoken irreverently of holy persons and things; said your prayers with wilful distractions; omitted by your own fault to hear Mass (if a Sunday or holiday of obligation); eaten flesh-meat without leave (if a Friday or abstinence-day)?
Less Sins.
Have you through laziness neglected your prayers or religious exercises; murmured, or been impatient in time of trouble?
Greater Sins against the other Commandments.
Have you been disobedient to the plain commands of your parents and other superiors; treated or spoken of them with contempt? Have you set a bad example in any grievous matter; given way to temper so as to wish any one harm; provoked or enticed any one to mortal sin; said, or done, or thought deliberately anything impure; told lies to the injury of any one; spread evil reports out of dislike or hatred; injured any one by taking what belongs to them, or by cheating?
Less Sins.
Have you caused needless anxiety to those who have the care of you; given way to impatience; failed in kindness to others; spoken needlessly of their faults; said what was not true, to avoid scolding, &c.; given way to vain thoughts; been impatient under good advice or due correction; indulged yourself in eating and drinking; wasted your time?
ACT OF CONTRITION.
My God, because Thou art so very good, I am truly sorry from my heart that I have sinned against Thee. I have also deserved Thy anger and Thy dreadful punishment. I beg pardon for having sinned against Thy great goodness, and I firmly resolve, by the help of Thy holy grace, not to offend Thee any more, but to avoid all occasions of sin for the love of Thee. Strengthen this sorrow and this resolution in my heart every day until I die.
Here you can make Acts of Faith, Hope, and Charity, and use any other prayers you like.
Mary, my dear Mother, and Mother of Jesus, my God and Saviour, take care of me, thy child, through the night, and show thyself a mother to me.
Holy Angels of God, and especially you my dear Angel-guardian, preserve me from harm of soul or body this night.
All ye Angels and Saints of God [Here name your Patron Saint, and any other Saint you please], pray for me.
May our Lord bless and keep us, and preserve us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life; and may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Most Holy Child Jesus, save Thy children.