eVotions – Digital Devotions for Modern Catholics
From Little i Apps comes some truly beautiful apps. The Blessed JPII app includes video, reflection, prayers, and a novena. This app is free, while St. Gianna and St. Joseph are available for just 99 cents. The St. Gianna app really makes you feel like sainthood is attainable when you see photos of St. Gianna – just an ordinary wife and mother.
The eVotions apps are available in the App store and the Android market.
MP3 Catholic Insight: Heroic Catholics
MP3 Catholic Insight is a must have for your iPhone or Droid.
Catholic Vault has a plethora of educational apps. But if I had to pick a favorite (and I will), it would be this app. (So far)
There’s a 4 part retreat for women (part 1, 91 minutes, is free), talks by Blessed Mother Teresa, and many political topics such as re-defining marriage, life issues, and morality in public office. There is also an address from Pope John Paul II to women. One of my favorite talks on the app is entitled “Heroic Catholics” – and that one (almost an hour) is free.
For any Catholic who struggles with apologetics, this app is for you.
The inspirational talks by Mother Teresa and John Paul II alone are worth the $8.99 price tag, but even if you choose not to upgrade, the free version has hours of talks. Catholic Vault has yet to disappoint. The apps are clean, easy to use, bug free, and stream – they don’t eat up your battery while you’re listening.
Don’t leave for your summer road trips without one of these apps on your mobile device.
MP3 Church Fathers
MP3 Church Fathers is fantastic for Easter – Pentecost. The Gospel sermons include the Gospel and a homily for the entire Easter season. This app includes Gospels and sermons for the entire liturgical year. The “Wisdom of the Fathers” section contains readings from various fathers of the Church.
St. Augustine on forgiveness, “Has it gone from your memory what He said while they crucified Him? Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
As usual, Catholic MP3 Vault does a beautiful job of bringing Catholicism to life. Hearing the wisdom of the Church is completely different from reading. There are hours of talks on this app. It’s a beautiful way to enrich your faith.
Also available in the Android Market. Find all the Catholic MP3 Vault apps here.
Stations of the Cross Apps
I wish I had this idea at the beginning of Lent, rather than the end. Better late than never. Here are all the apps I found that offer you the Stations of the Cross. Whenever we bear our own crosses and trials of life with patience and grace, we are travelling that lonely road with our Lord. He knows how it feels to be lonely, exhausted, mocked, and unloved.
We are never alone. The Stations of the Cross are a beautiful devotion to help us realize this.
Stations of The Cross (Ave Maria Press)
Offers the Stations of the Cross with simple artwork, traditional prayers (including gospel quotes), and has a Spanish option. Simple and easy to use.
This Way of the Cross includes English and Latin versions, as well as the option to save stations as favorites. Also includes support that allows you to send a Station via e-mail or Facebook. This also has a children’s version. I think the children’s version is very beautiful and appropriate for young children. My only complaint is that the Stations for children do not include the traditional names of the Stations. However, I love the meditations:
“Show your heart to Jesus…ask Jesus to make your heart more like his. Maybe you want to ask Jesus to help you to remember that God is always with you.”
Beautiful.
MP3 Catholic Prayer Stations of the Cross dramatization
Originally I was not a big fan of this Stations of the Cross. I was expecting just to hear the Stations aloud in a traditional way. What MP3 Prayer offers instead is a dramatization of the Stations. It is actually very powerful. By the second station, I really began to enjoy the way the dramatization brought the Passion to life. I think this would be excellent for children.
Stations of the Cross meditations by Saint Francis of Assisi. Includes Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be.
This app is simplicity itself. Beautiful depictions of the Stations, and simple prayers. Just lovely.
MP3 Catholic Saints for Android
I just downloaded MP3 Saints Pro for Android! I am currently listening to the series of talks on St. Philomena. We’ve talked about MP3 Saints before, so I won’t repeat myself. (But I will say that MP3 Saints and Fulton Sheen are now available in the Android Market).
These talks are quite interesting, and best of all, they do not drain your battery. Makes for good listening at bedtime, prayer time, or while driving in a car. It’s a great way to learn about the saints. With Holy Week upon us, I am looking forward to taking full advantage of all the apps available from Catholic MP3 Vault.
MP3 Catholic Courses
I am currently listening to “The Meaning of Truth” on MP3 Catholic Courses. This is another charming audio app in the Catholic MP3 Vault series. This particular talk is fascinating, as well as humorous. I’ve laughed out loud as often as I’ve marveled. What an interesting way to learn the faith. Granted, I’m old fashioned so I love these old radio addresses and talks. But I would think any Catholic interested in learning more about the faith would be taken with these apps that have an absolutely amazing amount of content packed into them. The talks are streamed, so they aren’t killing your battery life.
The Catholic Courses includes Philosophy, Theology, Scripture, and Saints. Various topics include political theory, spirituality of John Paul II, The Church and the World, and Adventures in Atheism (what can this possibly mean? I can’t wait to find out.)
“We always use the word [truth] correctly outside philosophy class.”
(from “The Meaning of Truth” talk)
About.com Catholic Reader’s Choice
Until March 8, voting is open for About.com’s Catholic Reader’s Choice awards. Strangely enough, yours truly is not in the running.
Seriously though, many of your favorite Catholics blogs, websites, and apps are on this list and you should go vote for them. The favorite iPhone apps is also worth taking a look at just to get some new apps, if you’re missing any of these.
Check it out and vote for your favorites, because everyone likes bragging rights.
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