A Very Little Office of Compline Night Prayer for Children
Bo Bonner aka
B.G. ‘Odo’ Bonner, Obl. O.S.B.
Gwyneth Thompson-Briggs (Illustrator)
ISBN 9781505135060
eISBN 9781505136593
eISBN 9781505136579
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.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2025 Catholic Reading Plan!
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