Ancient prayer is alive with changes we make to make it speak more to us.

The Episcopal Church, as well as Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran and other denominations use the Compline as a service which is held at the end of the day. The word Compline is derived from Latin and means, “the end of the working day”.

As with most liturgical pieces, the Compline contains many beautiful prayers and responses for the congregation and Priest as well as beautiful poetic lines from the Psalms. The Lord’s Prayer is also included in this short service.

I have fallen in love with a prayer that is said close to the end of the service.

“Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or
weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who
sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless
the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the
joyous; and all for your love’s sake.” Amen.

As soon as I heard this prayer, it spoke to me. I felt it was the perfect prayer and am always touched by the words. The reason I was so taken by this prayer is the last line in which we ask for the joyous to be shielded. I’ve never heard a prayer that asks for protection for those who are so happy that they are not thinking straight. To me this totally rounds out the prayer.

Over the years I have keep a copy of the Book of Common Prayer near my bedside as well as on a table in the living room. The Compline is always the section I reference.

A few years ago I decided that I should memorize my favorite prayer so I could use it as a start to my bedtime prayers. I kept trying to get the words right, but was always “messing up”. Then it occurred to me that if this is going to be my prayer, it can be adapted or changed to meet my needs.

The first thing I added was to include an intercession for the homeless. I added this request just behind the “give rest to the weary”. I felt that the addition of praying for the homeless brought the prayer more into the modern world. It just seems to fit in.

So I have been reciting my version every night and it brings me comfort and is a great way to segue into my requests for blessings for various people. So now I find myself being unhappy with “pity the afflicted” section. Maybe pity had another meaning back when this prayer was written, but to me I feel the afflicted are getting short-changed. I want them to have healing or other physical help rather than just our feelings of pity. I don’t know if I will eventually change this section to meet my personal needs. Being able to modify this prayer is comforting to me and because of this I know that the Compline is certainly a living work available to all who need it.