Dark and comely, evening veils all the glare and blaze of day, slows down frantic busyness, bids the faithful pause to pray: "Glorious, thrilling gleam of God, Jesus Christ, blest holy Light, brighter far than vesper lamps, fill and form our hymns tonight." Speechless night unfurls the stars hidden by the blazing sun, stark rebuke when human pride thinks our world the only one. Vast and distant planets dance far beyond our probing sense, telling us how small we are, how unearned God's providence. Mighty angels tend this night those who work or watch or weep, and to all in grief or pain bring the precious balm of sleep. Guard us night and day, O God; guide our dreams, our words, our deeds; give us grace to fill our lives with the Light this world still needs.