Tech Talk Tuesdays - Three Prayer Apps

Find the Tech Talk Tuesday archive here.

I thought I was getting an iPad to have an easier time reading e-books and maybe, just maybe, to be able to check my email in the kitchen. I suspected I would use social media apps but as I consider my usage in the last ten months, I can't help but laugh.

I'm using my iPad completely differently than I thought I would.

One of the main uses it serves for me is as a prayer book, so in today's Tech Talk, I thought I would share three apps that have really helped me grow in my prayer life.

Catholic Meditations for Eight Days
Available through iTunes (Free)

This is the newest prayer app I've tried, and it's made by the same developer as the scriptural rosary app I mentioned a few weeks ago. It's based on a chapter from Meditations and Devotions, by Blessed John Henry Newman. Each day, there's a different topic to focus your meditation. It's a five-screen process that has taken me as little as five minutes and as much as the time I'm willing to commit. In addition to having beautiful artwork, there is a Scripture reading and prompts to focus your meditations.

I'm very much a beginner at this sort of prayer, and I appreciate the combination of art, Scripture, and guidance. I haven't read any Newman, but this app has made me consider that my reading pile will not be complete without it.

Prayers 2000+
Available through iTunes ($1.99)

I heard about this app on a podcast I frequently listen to, and it's been one that I turn to when I'm looking for a novena or when I want to look up a prayer for a specific intention or to a specific saint. It's a great reference app, but I've been surprised at how much I enjoy using it, too. (I blame that on its design--it's an attractive app, and I like that it looks like an open book.) There's a way to "favorite" prayers, and I have used this functionality quite a bit. I also like that I can share or email a specific prayer with different people. Bonus: there's a section on Catholic doctrine.

iMissal
Available through iTunes ($4.99) and Android Market ($4.99)

I downloaded this app a while ago because I wanted to be able to read the Sunday Mass readings without getting online. I tried to avoid spending money--and there are apps that let you do that, but none of them were very easy to use. (I didn't want to have to figure out if it was the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time or Something-or-Other Special Sunday in Cycle B.)

I had to pony up the money for this app, and I agree that it's pricey. However, it also includes a TON of stuff. In its Missal section, it has the entire calendar of all the readings for daily and Sunday Masses for all the cycles, with audio if you have WiFi accessibility. You can also follow the order of Mass, watch Mass videos.

There's a daily Bible verse feature that I enjoy--it makes me think of my non-Catholic childhood, when we used to memorize verses. It lets you save verses and share them and even select new ones.

There is also a large collection of prayers, but I haven't really used this feature much. You can share the prayers and it includes the standard prayers categorized and organized by topic.

What apps do you use to help you pray? Do you have any favorites?