By Tish Harrison Warren

Compline can be a prayer of great comfort, and its relative brevity makes it easy to pray. compline is the prayer to end the day. Tish Harrison Warren talks about the meaning of the prayer and talks about how during her miscarriages praying compline helped keep her faith going during her grief. This book is one part breakdown of part of the prayer and a discussion about how prayer can help during grief and the other seasons of life.

When the pandemic began, my sending parish began praying compline nightly on Zoom. I was in field placement but joined them for prayer. At first it was my priest and I led the service (he would lead 5 nights a week and I would lead 2 nights – mostly to give him a break). Over the pandemic others in the congregation would lead. Those services were taking place in a time of fear and grief…. but they were comforting. It was good to be able to see so many faces and pray with them. After prayer we would spend a few minutes checking in with each other – how was everyone? How were those who were sick doing? The first responders, doctors, and nurses in the congregation? How were the parents and kids? It was a time for all of us to come together and cry out to God.

And that experience is why I picked up the book. Its a good read with a of reflections, personal stories, and theology.

200 Pages

4.5/5