Compline

When I was in 7th grade, or thereabouts, we learned about Medieval England. My history teacher Mr Freeman, made us learn all about life in a monastery. He brought it all to life by making us act it out there in his classroom. And so I was able to recite all the names for the services that were held every three hours during the monk's day. I also knew all the names for the pieces of a suit of armor, but that's another history lesson.

Compline was the last service of the monastery's day, emphasizing spiritual peace. It was the custom to begin the "Great Silence" after Compline, observing silence throughout the night until the morning service the next day.

Tonight, I went with Granny Rose to Compline at Worcester College chapel. The Chapel is mid-18th century, very ornate, and quite small. There were two vergers who conducted the service and three other people besides Rose and myself. The service was chanted by the two young men who managed to fill the chapel with their voices.