As people, we need sleep to not only rest our tired bodies, but also our minds and spirits.
It's amazing what a good night's sleep can do to help us think more clearly and get rid of any anger or hurt from the day before.
The Catholic Church has a long historyof praying a set of night prayersat the end of the day to ask God for a good night's sleep. Lord Jesus, keep my soul safe. May the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, and all the Saints pray to our Lord for us so that we are kept safe from sin and all bad things tonight. Amen.
May the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, and all the saints pray to Our Lord for us so that we are kept safe from sin and evil this night. O my good guardian angel, whom God has put in charge of me, watch over me tonight.
May Our Lord bless us, keep us safe from harm, and bring us to eternal life. May the souls of the faithful who have died rest in peace because of God's kindness. Amen Lord, keep an eye on those who are working, waking up, or crying tonight. Let the angels and saints take care of those who are sleeping. O Lord Jesus Christ, take care of your sick ones, rest your tired ones, bless your dying ones, comfort your suffering ones, have compassion on all your troubled ones, and protect your happy ones, all for the sake of your love. Amen.
A black Catholic rosary with the cross on an open Bible Protect us, Lord, while we're awake. Keep an eye on us while we're sleeping, so that when we're awake, we can watch with Christ and when we're asleep, we can rest in his peace. Lord God, please let us get a good night's sleep to rest our tired bodies. We hope that your help will always keep us going strong in your service. We ask this through the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Antiphon:Protect us, Lord, while we are awake; keep watch over us while we sleep, so that while awake we may keep vigil with Christ and while asleep we may rest in his peace. Lord, now release your servant in peace; your word has come to pass.
I beseech You to grant me peace this evening. To honor You with my life, may the word of Christ dwell in me richly, teaching me in every wisdom and producing righteousness in my heart. May I rest with gratitude for God in my heart. Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Scientific studies have shown that prayer has positive effects on both the person and society as a whole. However, our deep spiritual connection to God is what really motivates us to pray, whether alone or with othersand especially as a family. Catholic parents still regularly pray with their children before bed for a number of reasons, including the empirical evidence supporting the practice and the spiritual fortification it provides.