SOCS-Compline

13 Replies

Complement can mean complete and compline means to complete the day. It is the last prayer of the day or night prayer. I am thinking of compline because I am a fan of the PBS program “Call the Midwife.” It is based on the memoires of Jennifer Worth who worked as a Nurse-Midwife in the 1950s at Nonnatus House, a residence of Anglican nuns who were also Nurse-Midwives. The nuns and lay midwives provided maternity and public health care to a poor London area after WWII.

The compline is mentioned by the nuns in the show, and they are sometimes depicted in a compline service in the church at the end of the day. They stand together and chant the prayers.

I admire the dedication of all nuns. When I was little I thought of nuns as so stern and perfect. They were without fault. They would not allow themselves to commit any sins. I did not see their humanity.

One of first Nursing positions I had, as a young woman, was at a Catholic hospital in San Francisco. I met a nun who visited our unit. I sat with her in the cafeteria one day and she told me of a recent experience she had when she visited a patient in a Nursing Home. She said the person had loss the use of their hands and expressed their despair to her. The Sister said she had been depressed by it. I had an epiphany then. Nuns can get depressed too. They can have times when they are not strong just like everyone else.

Yet, they keep rededicating themselves to service.

|LindaGHill|

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13 thoughts on “SOCS-Compline”

  1. Prajakta

    “They would not allow themselves to commit any sins. I did not see their humanity.” – This line… I kept repeating it to myself and realized how much it applies to many people in our lives. Thank you!

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    1. Deborah Drucker Post author

      Yes, we can not really see people sometimes if they fit into a stereotype or we can stereotype them. Or there behavior can be misleading, we misinterpret them. ❤

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  4. LifestyleswithLia

    What an interesting post and view on the lives of those who dedicate themselves to the religious order. It’s true that sometimes I too view them as super-human being, without fault — but in talking to several nuns and priests in my life, I realize that they have the same emotions, hopes, fears etc. as I do. I admire their dedication to the religious order and to helping people.
    I must admit I’ve never heard of the compline (even though I did 4 years of Catholic school!) — Thank you for enlightening me:-)
    Have a lovely Sunday,
    *Lia

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Deborah Drucker Post author

      I had not heard of compline either until I heard it mentioned on “Call the Midwife.” Some churches do have compline services for the public but as far as I can tell they are usually a couple times a month. Thanks Lia. ❤

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