Paidir na hOíche ~ A Prayer for Night

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Narration: Michael McGowan, Violin: Kristin McGowan

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Almighty God,
be with us in the stillness of the night.

Keep us under your protection,
and grant us peace in your presence.

May your light shine upon us in the darkness,
may your love strengthen us,
and may your peace remain with us.

Bless our sleeping and our waking,
our thoughts and our hearts.

May your hand be with us tonight,
and every night of our lives.

Amen ~ Áiméan

May God's peace be with you ~ Go raibh síocháin Dé leat

 

About this Prayer

Paidir na hOíche ("A Prayer for Night") comes from the Bangor Antiphonary, one of the oldest surviving collections of Irish Christian prayer. Compiled at Bangor Abbey in the seventh century, the Antiphonary preserves the prayers and hymns of a remarkable monastic community whose devotion helped illuminate Ireland's early Christian tradition.

As the day comes to an end, this prayer turns the heart toward God in gratitude, trust, and surrender. The monks of Bangor understood the night not as a time of uncertainty, but as another moment held within God's loving care. This prayer asks for His protection through the darkness and His peace as we rest.

For generations of Christians, evening prayer has been a way of releasing the burdens of the day and placing them in God's hands. Paidir na hOíche invites us to end each day with humility and hope, remembering that God's presence remains with us through both the light and the darkness.

Read more: Discover the remarkable story of the Bangor Antiphonary and the community of Bangor Abbey that preserved this beautiful tradition of prayer: Read the full article.