certainly invested the Hour with the liturgical character and arrangement which were preserved by the Benedictines and adapted by the Roman Church.  The Compline of the Roman Church is more ornate and solemn than the liturgy assigned to this Hour by St. Benedict, which was very simple.  The addition of the response In manus tuas Domine, the Nunc dimittis and its anthem of the Blessed Virgin make this Hour one of great beauty.

Structure, The structure of the Hour seems to point to its monastic origin, “The reader begins, ‘Pray, Father, a blessing’ (jube, domne benedicere); the blessing, ’The Lord Almighty grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.  Amen.’  ‘Noctem quietam....’  Then follows a short lesson, which the Father Abbot gave to his monks.  ’Brethren, be sober and watch; because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, goeth about, seeking whom he may devour, whom resist ye, strong in faith.  But Thou, O Lord, have mercy on us.’  And the monks answer ‘Thanks be to God.’  ‘Fratres sobrii estote et vigilate....’  Then the Pater Noster (silently), and the presiding priest, who was the Abbot or his deputy, said the confiteor and the choir answered Misereatur....  ’May Almighty God have mercy upon thee and forgive thee thy sins, and bring thee to life everlasting.’  The choir then repeats the Confiteor and the priest replies ‘Misereatur vestri....’  ’May Almighty God have mercy upon you, forgive you your sins and bring you to life everlasting.’” Of course, in private recitation, or where two or three recite the Office, these prayers are said only once, and in the Confiteor, tibi pater and te pater are omitted, and nostri, nostris, nos, nostrorum, nobis, are said in the Misereatur and Indulgentiam.

Then the Converte nos Deus....  At averte iram tuam....  Deus in adjutorium....  Domine ad adjuvandum....  Gloria Patri....  Antiphon (begun only) and three psalms, which vary, are said, Gloria Patri.... Sicut erat... being said at the end of each. In manus tuas... is said twice. Redemisti nos. ... Commendo spiritum meum; Custodi nos ... sub umbra.... Salva nos; Nunc dimittis.... Gloria Patri, Salva nos Domine vigilantes, custodi nos... pace. (Preces are said here if rubric orders; i.e., Kyrie eleison, Christie eleison... ad te veniat); Dominus vobiscum, Et cum.... Benedicamus Domino, Deo gratias; Benedicat et custodiat nos omnipotens.  Amen; then the anthem of the Blessed Virgin, Alma Redemptoris Mater (from Saturday before first Sunday of Advent to the feast of the Purification, inclusive) with its antiphon; in Advent, Angelus Domini, response, Et concepit, Oremus and prayer, Gratiam tuam, or with antiphon (after Advent) Post partum... and response, Dei genetrix, Oremus, Deus qui salutis.  After the Purification, until Holy Thursday the anthem