Ere I sleep…

It can be hard to wind down before sleep. Even with the best of intentions, the events of the day, both good and bad and simply complex, often refuse to let our minds let go. And sometimes when we wake up in the middle of the night, it is amazing how our brain is already working, making it hard to fall back asleep. I am afraid the internet does not help at times, as it is always there. Indeed, it never sleeps.

I think it is helpful to pray before sleep, and at those times when sleep eludes us. The Church’s tradition provides many helpful words to help. One of the most beautiful is a hymn by the saintly and learned Thomas Ken, Bishop of Bath and Wells who passed away in 1711.

 

For those of you who do not know it, and for those who do but may have forgotten it, I present it here as a gift to us all of praise, confession, prayer and peace.

All praise to thee, my God, this night,

for all the blessings of the light:

keep me, O keep me, King of kings,

beneath thine own almighty wings.

 

Forgive me, Lord, for thy dear Son,

the ill that I this day have done;

that with the world, myself, and thee,

I, ere I sleep, at peace may be.

 

O may my soul on thee repose,

and with sweet sleep mine eyelids close;

sleep that shall me more vigorous make

to serve my God when I awake.

 

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

praise him, all creatures here below;

praise him above, ye heavenly host:

praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.