A Very Little Office of Compline: Night Prayer for Children
By B.G. "Odo" Bonner · Published by TAN Books
Overview
End each day by placing your child in God's loving care through the timeless tradition of the Church's night prayer. A Very Little Office of Compline: Night Prayer for Children is a beautifully illustrated adaptation of Compline—the final hour of the Divine Office—carefully crafted to introduce young children to the peaceful rhythm of liturgical prayer. Adapted by Bo Bonner and illustrated by Gwyneth Thompson-Briggs, this charming volume transforms bedtime into a sacred moment of trust, thanksgiving, and rest in God's providence.
Featuring simplified prayers, psalms, and hymns inspired by the Church's ancient tradition, this little book gently forms children in the habit of daily prayer while preparing them to one day participate more fully in the Liturgy of the Hours. Whether read together as a family or used as part of a child's nightly routine, it offers a beautiful way to cultivate peace, reverence, and confidence in God's constant protection.
What This Book Offers:
- A Child's First Compline: Introduces young readers to the Church's Night Prayer in a simple, accessible format.
- Beautiful Bedtime Prayers: Includes adapted psalms and hymns that entrust children to God's loving protection.
- Faithful Liturgical Formation: Serves as a gentle stepping stone toward the full Liturgy of the Hours.
- Delightful Illustrations: Warm, engaging artwork by Gwyneth Thompson-Briggs enriches family prayer time.
- Create a Peaceful Bedtime Routine: Establish a nightly habit of prayer that brings comfort and consistency.
- Grow in Liturgical Life: Introduce children to one of the Church's oldest and most beautiful prayer traditions.
- Build Trust in God's Care: Teach children to end each day with confidence in the Lord's protection.
- Pray Together as a Family: A wonderful resource for parents seeking meaningful evening devotions with their children.
- Encourage Lifelong Prayer: Lay a foundation for a lifetime of participation in the Church's liturgical prayer.
From the Book
"Into Your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit."
Intended Audience
This book is ideal for Catholic families with young children who wish to establish a faithful bedtime prayer routine rooted in the Church's liturgical tradition. It is equally well suited for homeschool families, parish libraries, and anyone introducing children to the beauty of the Divine Office.
FAQs
What is Compline?
Compline is the Church's Night Prayer—the final hour of the Liturgy of the Hours—offering prayers of thanksgiving, trust, and protection before sleep.
Is this the full Divine Office?
No. It is a simplified adaptation designed specifically for children while remaining faithful to the spirit and structure of the Church's traditional Night Prayer.
Can families pray this together each evening?
Absolutely. Its concise format and beautiful illustrations make it ideal for nightly family prayer and establishing a peaceful bedtime routine.
Key Themes
- Night Prayer: Ending each day by entrusting ourselves to God's loving care.
- The Divine Office: A gentle introduction to the Church's daily rhythm of prayer.
- Childlike Trust: Growing in confidence that God watches over His children.
- Liturgical Formation: Building lifelong habits of prayer rooted in the Church's tradition.
- Author:
- Bo Bonner
- Illustrator:
- Gwyneth Thompson-Briggs
- Publish Date:
- 9/30/2025
- Page Count:
- 40
- Preview Link:
- https://tanbooks.com/content/3339_Preview.pdf
- Height:
- 6.00
- Width:
- 4.00
7 Reviews
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Great way to end bed time!
I love having this book. My son is 4 and I love sowing seeds for regular prayer. I was worried it'd be overwhelming for him but its perfect.
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Adorable
I loved this book so much. It's abridged for small children, but it's poetic, beautiful and engaging. I reccomend this for all parents. What a wonderful way to teach night prayer.
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Delightful!
This adaption of Compline for children is incredibly done. The prayers are beautiful, the artwork delightful. I bought 3 to give to loved ones at Easter and wish I’d bought several more. I recommend for all Catholic families. A great way to instill a love for Divine Office in children of all ages. Adults will thoroughly enjoy praying with this too.
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I love it! Will we see other hours?
I'm an adult and I've placed this book next to my own book. Sometimes, we need to pray as a child prayers. I'd love to see the other hours.
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Every Aspect is Appealing
The small size of this book, the sturdy binding, the easy text and, most of all, the beautiful illustrations, work together to make it appealing to children. The simplified verses are true to the ancient office of Compline, and the illustrations complement the text while also being evocative enough to hold the attention of children not yet reading on their own.
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Sure to be loved by children.
I received a digital copy of this book as a surprise gift. I did not know anything about it before I started looking at it. I read it through and then reread it again the next day. It is a wonderful volume for families and for little ones. I really wish it had been available when my own children were younger. I have given my children several prayer books over the years and this is one I would have picked up a copy for each of my kids. The description of this volume states: “Visit we beseech thee Lord This house in which we dwell, Let Angels who abide herein The devil’s snares dispel, In peace, please keep our weary heads, And your blessings always as well. Through Christ our Lord, Amen. Teach your children the timeless rhythm of prayer with A Very Little Office of Compline. When praying the psalms and hymns of the Divine Office in the given hours of the day, we truly “pray without ceasing.” This gift of prayer that orients us always toward God can be enjoyed by even the littlest of souls. Compline, prayed in the last hour, is especially enriching for children because it sets a nighttime prayer routine. Compline includes psalms and hymns that ask God for His protection while we sleep. A Very Little Office of Compline can be used to pray the Liturgy of the Hours as well. These prayers, complete with elegant illustrations, were faithfully adapted by Bo Bonner so that your children are introduced to the beauty and depth of the Divine Office in an approachable way.” About the author we are informed: “B.G. ‘Odo’ Bonner, Obl. O.S.B., is an Oblate at Clear Creek Abbey in Oklahoma, and took his oblate name after St. Odo of Cluny. He and his wife have been married for over two decades, and have five children. He converted to Catholicism during Protestant seminary, and beyond writing poetry, also teaches and speaks on philosophy, theology, and literature. He was born on the feast of St. Blaise, patron of throats, and has not stopped talking ever since.” About the Illustrator: “Gwyneth Thompson-Briggs is a contemporary sacred artist in the perennial Western tradition. Her art decorates churches, schools, and private homes throughout the Americas and Europe. She lives in St. Louis with her husband and four children.” The sections in this volume are: The Very Little Hours A Very Little Compline Incipit Lectio Brevis Confiteor Psalm 4 Psalm 90 Psalm 133 Hymn Little Chapter and Verse Chapter Verse Versicle Kyrie/Our Father Nunc Dimittis Antiphon Collect Final Blessing Marian Antiphons Alma Redemptoris Mater Ave Regina Caelorum Regina Caeli Salve Regina There is a sample prayer in the description above a couple other samples are: “The Very Little Hours Matins speaks from silence deep as Lauds, the dawning harvests reap Prime, our labors, girds with strength as Terce prepares our votive’s length Sext bears the Cross on which Christ hung ’til “it is finished” by None be sung Then Vespers lights the lamps of praise and Compline rests our pilgrim days Seven-a-Day I bow my chin and once at night to conquer sin. Amen.” “Lectio Brevis May our passions be never inflamed nor our souls by the devil be maimed who like a lion may roar while we slumber and snore but our help’s in the name of the Lord!” “Hymn Before the day is done Creator of earth and sun Your favor please endow both guard and keep us now From nightmares and their fear defend mind, eye, and ear tread underfoot the fiend and keep our conscience clean To the Father and the Son, and the Spirit, Three-in-One be all glory now and ever Who live and reign forever! Amen.” The prayers are wonderfully adapted for children. The illustrations are excellent. This volume is a little treasure. This would be an excellent addition to any home, school, or church library. I encourage you to pick up copies for little ones in your own life, for your children, nieces and nephews, grandkids … I am certain kids will love the prayers and the illustrations.
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So sweet!
Will definitely be praying this over our children each night! Short and sweet, but so powerful
