I spent a week in Spencer for a vocational retreat in 1992. One of my happiest memories. I retain a great admiration of the Cistercian/Trappist ideal. Blessings to all. Peace and light.
@@annetteallain Do you think I could take a retreat here? I'm 34, Lutheran, but I think I received the call last night from God at 3am. I was watching the show "Lost" at 3am as I've been mentally, spiritually, and emotionally "Lost" for a long time now. The episode was about Desmond, who went to a monastery to retreat and to become a monk at a beautiful Abbey in Scotland. God must've had other plans, though for Desmond. I felt something. "Feeling" for the first time in awhile, so I started researching it online, looking for Abbey's in USA (some close by such as Saint Josephs Abbey in Spencer, Massachusetts). Listened to their Compline Melody music I found here and it "Touched" my soul like no other music, especially with the soothing guitar and singing(?)/chanting at the beginning and throughout it. I've been anxiety fueled with depression and lacking spirituality for awhile. I've been thinking of taking the long drive there for a retreat to see to see if I receive the call from God but I don't know if I'd be allowed as I'm Lutheran technically (though haven't practiced in awhile, well before I became "Lost" after I lost my best friend, who was the best guitar player ever, die of an overdose night before Thanksgiving 2006. I feel like it was my fault as he called me because he just got back from a different college than I was going to, but I didn't answer as I had a hangover from drinking the night before (that is another issue as alcoholism is an issue in my tattered family life, but have been drink free for 11 years now, but have other issues. I didn't drink often, but occassionally I would hit it to hard to help with some lingering issues of abuse as a child). When I didn't pick up he must've called a bad influence friend of his that was in to drugs. I would never let Luke touch drugs when we were hanging, just some beers and his guitar, but his friend brought drugs to his house that night and Thanksgiving Day I got the call that he died. Ever since then I've downward spiraled. Blaming myself for not answering his call as I didn't want to tell him "I can't come over,' and leave him down. I figured the next night we could hang as Thanksgiving breaks in the US are a week off from University and we'd have plenty of time. His lovely mother had inoperable cancer at the time too and I was the only friend that his family loved/liked as most of our friends were bad influences. I guess I was a bad influence too. Of all his friends, they asked me to be a pallbearer. I couldn't get the courage to tell them before she died but I did visit for awhile after before she died. I was so low at that point that I'd drive to his grave for years after about and hours away, and sit there and talk to his grave and have a few beers and cry and talk and apologize. I'm not proud of the drinking part and would sober up as much as I could before leaving. I went back to university, and just started isolating myself, turning to vodka instead of beer (which I could handle unless I binged, but vodka I couldn't control). I got great grades and on the weekends and holiday breaks, I wouldn't go home. Instead I'd go on days to week long binges to the point where I once got delirium tremens when I would stop and started hallucinating, having sleep paralysis where I'd see demons on top of me as real as life but I couldn't move until it attacked me and I woke up with sweats and breathing like I just drowned and came back to life. I had auditory hallucinations as well. I started to worry that I was going to die as my heart rate and blood pressure was so high, and shaking so much I couldn't hold a glass of water. I knew I was going to die so I called a university friend hoping he'd still be in town to pick me up and take me to the hospital immediately. Thank the Lord that he was there (I didn't want to go in an ambulance as my anxiety was off the roof). We checked into the hospital and I was so shaky that I couldn't sign in to the hospital, but again thank God that the doctors immediately put me in front of the line. Blood pressure was so high they were surprised I was still alive. They strapped me to a gurney as I was involuntary spasmodic and injected something to bring the blood pressure down. They kept me overnight then sent me home with a prescription to calm me down. I was a male cheerleader at a big university and there was a basketball tournament that I was scheduled to go to out of state, so we all flew there. For the next several months I still had hallucinations and couldn't eat. I remember one night waking up screaming at my hotel roommate that their were bugs in my bed crawling on me, and ripped apart my bed. I knew I needed help, so once I got back to university, I attended multiple sessions of AA a day for about 6 months. Read all the books, but stopped going as I found the library to be my solitude and would go every night to read a book a day. It helped. Then I got a job at a nice east coast beach for summer with college kids and the drinking started up again as there were parties every night. It got bad. It continued after I went back to university until one weekend I came home and told my father that I needed help because I had terrible chronic pain in my stomach and was still drinking. I was diagnosed with Chronic Pancreatis, a disease brought on by alcohol consumption, incurable only manageable. I was put in the hospital psych ward and they diagnosed me with a host of untreatable mental health issues as well. Severe anxiety, social anxiety, depression, PTSD, ETC. I was put on a cocktail of meds that helped, but overtime I got hooked on them. Fast forward 11 years later to today, I live with excruciating chronic pain in my stomach from the chronic Pancreatis. I've been lonely, isolated for years now. I know I need to get spiritually healthy again. I need God and Jesus Christ back in my life. With my issues and being a Lutheran, I don't think I can even do a retreat at a catholic monastery. I pray that I can but don't know how it works for a person like me, if at all. I need structure and camaraderie again as well. I know I need to go to church and study the Bible. I know I probably need to fix myself with the help of God and maybe someday I can take a retreat. God brought me here and to even write this has felt a relief off my back. I don't think it's a coincidence that I received the message from God on Good Friday. God bless and thank you for this as just listening and singing(?)/chanting(?) along has brought me piece to finally write the above which has helped me. Have a great and Happy Easter, God will be with all of us. I will no longer be "Lost." As I know God and Jesus Christ is with me. I'm going to try to find the courage to start going to church and studying the Bible again an accept Jesus back into my life.
Take advantage of the abbey you who live close. I ask the Lord to let me visit one of these abbeys before I die since I am so far from them. It is difficult to travel the distance so I try to make good use of this kind of posts. Thanks a million for them!!!
Totally enjoying the monks of Spencer as I have my entire adult life. My brother and I from Sterling Mass attended Compline Many years there and he loved it so much he eventually joined St Joseph’s Abbey. That was 45 years ago and still sings this every night.
Thanks for your comment. So nice your brother joined the Trappists. As a teen I was there frequently, enjoying the walk up and down the hill to the chapel. It is where I became more clear of my own calling in life.
Thank you. I had not thought of making justice my sacrafice. My justice and even my civil rights are sacraficed daily. Now I will offer them to God and ask for His justice. Thank you for your change to my thoughts and prayers.
Thank you for sharing this! I grew up in the 70s listening to this nightly on a local religious radio station. The audio is crystal clear and it is wonderful to see the lyrics.
There are not enough religious radio stations in Virginia. I could see Texas boasting a good number of stations, based on how many Billboards they put up on the highway about Jesus! :)
What a wonderful offering for those of us who are heartbroken to not be able to retreat in these days. So happy to have found this! God Bless You and Keep You!
I spent many an evening there in my teens and always appreciated compline. This was a way of keeping some of that meaningful presence of the Abby. Glad you appreciate it.
Nice to find a COMPLINE prayer chant here in You Tube,last month I attended an 8 day Observation period with them at Trappist Guimaras Island,Phillippines
An extraordinary affecting simplicity in this which is unmistakable. Loved it, was moved by it and to some extent changed. I can't be more honest than that.
I have always wanted to visit this place. My grandfather, a food science professor, went to Spencer and taught the monks about canning for mass production when they were first getting started…
You will not be disappointed when you get the chance to visit. Such a prayerful place. You grandfather certainly pointed them in the right direction and they went from there. Blessings.
I grew up in North Brookfield and often drove over to the Abbey for Compline. For 30 years I have been living in Germany and am so happy to be able to listen to Compline on you tube - always a blessing!
Fr. Luke? and his guitar? Fr. James... you're Novice Master now I'm told. ) We were novices together... I am Stephen... I insulted your cookies in the West room (was it 110 degrees?)... I'm sure you remember Br. Peter Damien... and Br. Gabriel... There is nothing I would want to do more than rewind the last 30 years...
Glad you appreciate it. I went to this compline for years and now live a distance away. I took the liberty to cut and paste the book I got at the Abbey so we could all follow along.
@@annetteallain I have been on retreat at the abbey a number of times. As a matter of fact, this year, 2022, is the 50th anniversary of my first retreat. My wife and I take rides up from RI every so often..especially in the warmer weather and attend services there. Compline is my favorite. I especially like when they end with the Salve Regina (in English) with the church in darkness.. Thank you again. I have been watching/listening to this recording a number of evenings since I found it.
This Abbey is in Spencer MA. In the 70's Fr. Tom Keating, well known for Centering Prayer (Contemplative Outreach www.contemplativeoutreach.org), was the Abbot. Compline was well attended and appreciated.
It is from their old vinyl album same as on front cover. Image at beginning of compline is from their accompaniment book and album. St. Joseph’s Abbey, Spencer MA
I used to hear this on the radio when I lived in Torrington, CT in the late 80s. Is this recording from around that time? It sounds exactly as I remember it, in particular the voice of the leader.
@@annetteallain Got it, thanks so much! Seems like a miracle that I went on UA-cam to try to find this, which seemed like a very slim chance - figured the best I would find would be a bad recording off the radio - yet I found the very thing I wanted. Thanks for posting it!
A different comment than when I first found this here. 4 years ago. So disappointed that it has become a commercial for Cash App right in the middle of Compline. Moniitizing this is shameful. So very sad I revisited.
I had no idea. I pay for youtube therefore ads should not be popping in st all. THANK YOU for letting me know - I agree with you it is unacceptable. I will connect with UA-cam to find out why this is happening. Annette
I had no idea. I pay for youtube therefore ads should not be popping in st all. THANK YOU for letting me know - I agree with you it is unacceptable. I will connect with UA-cam to find out why this is happening. AnnettE
This is the same group of Cistercian monks from St. Joseph's Abbey who recorded both albums and continue to use both latin and english for their prayer. The English version with guitar has enabled many to appreciate the psalms of compline in a language they comprehend. I consider this a gift as it enables people to pray in a manner which has meaning for them.
This is NOT compline. It is folk music and misses the beauty of our tradition. Harpa Dei does a wonderful job. Dont be fooled this is NOT the divine office. Gregorian chant is timeless.This is Compline ua-cam.com/video/mXKsE0JFYDE/v-deo.htmlfeature=shared
This is the same group of Cistercian monks from St. Joseph's Abbey who recorded albums in gregorian chant. They continue to use both latin and english for their prayer. The English version with guitar has enabled many to appreciate the psalms of compline in a language they comprehend. I consider this a gift as it enables people to pray in a manner which has meaning for them. Whatever the language or melody used, the psalms of compline remain the same.
Thank you so much for posting the words so we can pray along. God's Blessings and protect.
Sing for the Gloria of God and Peace among men & women of good will. Adoration and praise be to God forever and ever!
Amen!
God Bless them.
I spent a week in Spencer for a vocational retreat in 1992. One of my happiest memories. I retain a great admiration of the Cistercian/Trappist ideal. Blessings to all. Peace and light.
Spencer is a peaceful place - good for the soul. glad you have such a happy memory. peace.
@@annetteallain Do you think I could take a retreat here?
I'm 34, Lutheran, but I think I received the call last night from God at 3am.
I was watching the show "Lost" at 3am as I've been mentally, spiritually, and emotionally "Lost" for a long time now. The episode was about Desmond, who went to a monastery to retreat and to become a monk at a beautiful Abbey in Scotland. God must've had other plans, though for Desmond.
I felt something. "Feeling" for the first time in awhile, so I started researching it online, looking for Abbey's in USA (some close by such as Saint Josephs Abbey in Spencer, Massachusetts). Listened to their Compline Melody music I found here and it "Touched" my soul like no other music, especially with the soothing guitar and singing(?)/chanting at the beginning and throughout it. I've been anxiety fueled with depression and lacking spirituality for awhile. I've been thinking of taking the long drive there for a retreat to see to see if I receive the call from God but I don't know if I'd be allowed as I'm Lutheran technically (though haven't practiced in awhile, well before I became "Lost" after I lost my best friend, who was the best guitar player ever, die of an overdose night before Thanksgiving 2006. I feel like it was my fault as he called me because he just got back from a different college than I was going to, but I didn't answer as I had a hangover from drinking the night before (that is another issue as alcoholism is an issue in my tattered family life, but have been drink free for 11 years now, but have other issues. I didn't drink often, but occassionally I would hit it to hard to help with some lingering issues of abuse as a child). When I didn't pick up he must've called a bad influence friend of his that was in to drugs. I would never let Luke touch drugs when we were hanging, just some beers and his guitar, but his friend brought drugs to his house that night and Thanksgiving Day I got the call that he died. Ever since then I've downward spiraled. Blaming myself for not answering his call as I didn't want to tell him "I can't come over,' and leave him down. I figured the next night we could hang as Thanksgiving breaks in the US are a week off from University and we'd have plenty of time. His lovely mother had inoperable cancer at the time too and I was the only friend that his family loved/liked as most of our friends were bad influences. I guess I was a bad influence too. Of all his friends, they asked me to be a pallbearer. I couldn't get the courage to tell them before she died but I did visit for awhile after before she died. I was so low at that point that I'd drive to his grave for years after about and hours away, and sit there and talk to his grave and have a few beers and cry and talk and apologize. I'm not proud of the drinking part and would sober up as much as I could before leaving.
I went back to university, and just started isolating myself, turning to vodka instead of beer (which I could handle unless I binged, but vodka I couldn't control). I got great grades and on the weekends and holiday breaks, I wouldn't go home. Instead I'd go on days to week long binges to the point where I once got delirium tremens when I would stop and started hallucinating, having sleep paralysis where I'd see demons on top of me as real as life but I couldn't move until it attacked me and I woke up with sweats and breathing like I just drowned and came back to life. I had auditory hallucinations as well. I started to worry that I was going to die as my heart rate and blood pressure was so high, and shaking so much I couldn't hold a glass of water. I knew I was going to die so I called a university friend hoping he'd still be in town to pick me up and take me to the hospital immediately. Thank the Lord that he was there (I didn't want to go in an ambulance as my anxiety was off the roof).
We checked into the hospital and I was so shaky that I couldn't sign in to the hospital, but again thank God that the doctors immediately put me in front of the line. Blood pressure was so high they were surprised I was still alive. They strapped me to a gurney as I was involuntary spasmodic and injected something to bring the blood pressure down. They kept me overnight then sent me home with a prescription to calm me down. I was a male cheerleader at a big university and there was a basketball tournament that I was scheduled to go to out of state, so we all flew there. For the next several months I still had hallucinations and couldn't eat. I remember one night waking up screaming at my hotel roommate that their were bugs in my bed crawling on me, and ripped apart my bed.
I knew I needed help, so once I got back to university, I attended multiple sessions of AA a day for about 6 months. Read all the books, but stopped going as I found the library to be my solitude and would go every night to read a book a day. It helped.
Then I got a job at a nice east coast beach for summer with college kids and the drinking started up again as there were parties every night. It got bad. It continued after I went back to university until one weekend I came home and told my father that I needed help because I had terrible chronic pain in my stomach and was still drinking. I was diagnosed with Chronic Pancreatis, a disease brought on by alcohol consumption, incurable only manageable. I was put in the hospital psych ward and they diagnosed me with a host of untreatable mental health issues as well. Severe anxiety, social anxiety, depression, PTSD, ETC. I was put on a cocktail of meds that helped, but overtime I got hooked on them. Fast forward 11 years later to today, I live with excruciating chronic pain in my stomach from the chronic Pancreatis. I've been lonely, isolated for years now.
I know I need to get spiritually healthy again. I need God and Jesus Christ back in my life. With my issues and being a Lutheran, I don't think I can even do a retreat at a catholic monastery. I pray that I can but don't know how it works for a person like me, if at all. I need structure and camaraderie again as well. I know I need to go to church and study the Bible. I know I probably need to fix myself with the help of God and maybe someday I can take a retreat.
God brought me here and to even write this has felt a relief off my back. I don't think it's a coincidence that I received the message from God on Good Friday.
God bless and thank you for this as just listening and singing(?)/chanting(?) along has brought me piece to finally write the above which has helped me. Have a great and Happy Easter, God will be with all of us. I will no longer be "Lost." As I know God and Jesus Christ is with me. I'm going to try to find the courage to start going to church and studying the Bible again an accept Jesus back into my life.
The abbey is amazing. This is heaven in earth. So fortunate to live close by.
The retreat house is due to open in Winter 2023 as of December 2022. All faiths I’m sure are welcomed
Special. Hymnal
Take advantage of the abbey you who live close. I ask the Lord to let me visit one of these abbeys before I die since I am so far from them. It is difficult to travel the distance so I try to make good use of this kind of posts. Thanks a million for them!!!
Muito obrigado! Que frescor, que leveza, que paz! Gratidão de um frade Carmelita do 🇧🇷 Brasil. Um grande abraço ao Padre Bernardo Bonowits
Totally enjoying the monks of Spencer as I have my entire adult life. My brother and I from Sterling Mass attended Compline Many years there and he loved it so much he eventually joined St Joseph’s Abbey. That was 45 years ago and still sings this every night.
Thanks for your comment. So nice your brother joined the Trappists. As a teen I was there frequently, enjoying the walk up and down the hill to the chapel. It is where I became more clear of my own calling in life.
I love this. Sing a new song…the arrangement and instrument beautiful oh Lord be pleased…I shall beg for His love all my life…
Thank you for this video. Love and the content so much. God bless you for sharing.
Thank you. I had not thought of making justice my sacrafice. My justice and even my civil rights are sacraficed daily. Now I will offer them to God and ask for His justice. Thank you for your change to my thoughts and prayers.
Wishing you blessings in abundance.
People are still finding this and loving it.
Some prayer experiences never grow old. This one is a treasure. Blessings to you and your loved ones.
Thank you for this. The monks and this abbey hold a special place in my heart. God bless.
This is a Blessing thank you
Thank you for sharing this! I grew up in the 70s listening to this nightly on a local religious radio station. The audio is crystal clear and it is wonderful to see the lyrics.
Thanks Stephen.
There are not enough religious radio stations in Virginia. I could see Texas boasting a good number of stations, based on how many Billboards they put up on the highway about Jesus! :)
What a wonderful offering for those of us who are heartbroken to not be able to retreat in these days. So happy to have found this! God Bless You and Keep You!
I spent many an evening there in my teens and always appreciated compline. This was a way of keeping some of that meaningful presence of the Abby. Glad you appreciate it.
This is a beautiful thing you’ve given us
Exactly! This is so beautiful!
I frequented the Abbey for compline as a teenager in the early 70's. This keeps me grounded. Glad it holds meaning for so many people.
@@annetteallainis this a more recent recording or is it from back then?
Thank you so much. God bless
Nice to find a COMPLINE prayer chant here in You Tube,last month I attended an 8 day Observation period with them at Trappist Guimaras Island,Phillippines
My childhood bedtime music.
I make my annual retreat at Spencer Abbey and look forward to it every year. A place of peace and silence.
Indeed a special place.
An extraordinary affecting simplicity in this which is unmistakable. Loved it, was moved by it and to some extent changed. I can't be more honest than that.
ua-cam.com/video/UWktcW5iR6M/v-deo.html
This is so beautiful, loved it so much, thanks for sharing and God bless you!
This is such a beautiful aid for my nightly prayer. Thank you and God Bless you for posting this. Amen.
Thank you. The Abby was such a meaningful place as a teenager and Compline was my favorite. Glad it holds meaning for you.
So much calmness in my soul listening to these words.
I have always wanted to visit this place. My grandfather, a food science professor, went to Spencer and taught the monks about canning for mass production when they were first getting started…
You will not be disappointed when you get the chance to visit. Such a prayerful place. You grandfather certainly pointed them in the right direction and they went from there. Blessings.
Good song,s
Very soothing and beautifully done.
I grew up in North Brookfield and often drove over to the Abbey for Compline. For 30 years I have been living in Germany and am so happy to be able to listen to Compline on you tube - always a blessing!
I have at St.Joseph's Abbey, all some years ago.
I have never felt the gracious presence of God as overwhelmingly as I did there. Thank you so much.
Greetings rom North Brookfield!
Fr. Luke? and his guitar?
Fr. James... you're Novice Master now I'm told. )
We were novices together... I am Stephen... I insulted your cookies in the West room (was it 110 degrees?)...
I'm sure you remember Br. Peter Damien...
and Br. Gabriel...
There is nothing I would want to do more than rewind the last 30 years...
Thank you to whomever posted this.
Glad you appreciate it. I went to this compline for years and now live a distance away. I took the liberty to cut and paste the book I got at the Abbey so we could all follow along.
@@annetteallain I have been on retreat at the abbey a number of times. As a matter of fact, this year, 2022, is the 50th anniversary of my first retreat. My wife and I take rides up from RI every so often..especially in the warmer weather and attend services there. Compline is my favorite. I especially like when they end with the Salve Regina (in English) with the church in darkness.. Thank you again. I have been watching/listening to this recording a number of evenings since I found it.
Thank you for putting this on UA-cam. May God bless you
You are so welcome, Fr. Bob.
Thank you. I have retreated at St. Joseph's many times, it's so nice to hear this. A Blessed Easter to you and yours.
Beautiful God Be Praised
Angelic chanting! Moving me. Aida, OCDS from St Teresa de Jesus OCds community Manila Philippines
Peace.
So very beautiful! Thank you!
Thank you too!
I was very suppirsed to hear a guitar in this recording and to hear that it was in english
This Abbey is in Spencer MA. In the 70's Fr. Tom Keating, well known for Centering Prayer (Contemplative Outreach www.contemplativeoutreach.org), was the Abbot. Compline was well attended and appreciated.
Thank you for including the word!
Beautiful!
Beautiful
Hallelujah ❤️✝️
What record or recording is this from? It's very beautiful
It is from their old vinyl album same as on front cover. Image at beginning of compline is from their accompaniment book and album. St. Joseph’s Abbey, Spencer MA
I used to hear this on the radio when I lived in Torrington, CT in the late 80s. Is this recording from around that time? It sounds exactly as I remember it, in particular the voice of the leader.
Hi Mark, yes, this recording is from their vinyl record of the 70's and for years they chanted this version in Spencer. So peaceful.
@@annetteallain Got it, thanks so much! Seems like a miracle that I went on UA-cam to try to find this, which seemed like a very slim chance - figured the best I would find would be a bad recording off the radio - yet I found the very thing I wanted. Thanks for posting it!
A different comment than when I first found this here. 4 years ago. So disappointed that it has become a commercial for Cash App right in the middle of Compline. Moniitizing this is shameful. So very sad I revisited.
I had no idea. I pay for youtube therefore ads should not be popping in st all. THANK YOU for letting me know - I agree with you it is unacceptable. I will connect with UA-cam to find out why this is happening.
Annette
Thank you. It is so jarring when someone starts screaming at you in the middle. Good luck getting to the bottom of this.
Now in August 2024 there are mid roll ads.
Was compline interrupted with ads?
@@annetteallain yes
I had no idea. I pay for youtube therefore ads should not be popping in st all. THANK YOU for letting me know - I agree with you it is unacceptable. I will connect with UA-cam to find out why this is happening.
AnnettE
3:22
whoa
They should have kept the traditional Cistercian chant in Latin
It's not ugly, but actually sad. Compare with ua-cam.com/video/GNwRHq3WMj8/v-deo.html . Abandoning Traditional Liturgy, Latin, and Melodies.
This is the same group of Cistercian monks from St. Joseph's Abbey who recorded both albums and continue to use both latin and english for their prayer. The English version with guitar has enabled many to appreciate the psalms of compline in a language they comprehend. I consider this a gift as it enables people to pray in a manner which has meaning for them.
Can u just shut up?!
This is NOT compline. It is folk music and misses the beauty of our tradition. Harpa Dei does a wonderful job. Dont be fooled this is NOT the divine office. Gregorian chant is timeless.This is Compline
ua-cam.com/video/mXKsE0JFYDE/v-deo.htmlfeature=shared
I am confused. From what I’ve seen here, they are actually doing this as compline.. no? So are they breaking a rule here?
This is the same group of Cistercian monks from St. Joseph's Abbey who recorded albums in gregorian chant. They continue to use both latin and english for their prayer.
The English version with guitar has enabled many to appreciate the psalms of compline in a language they comprehend. I consider this a gift as it enables people to pray in a manner which has meaning for them.
Whatever the language or melody used, the psalms of compline remain the same.
Beautiful!