Tech Talk: Reading e-Devotionals

The newly-published devotional from CatholicMom.com got me to use an app I'd long resisted: the free Amazon Kindle app.

That's because As Morning Breaks: Daily Gospel Reflections isn't available in print format.

I've owned a Kindle far longer than I've had a smartphone or tablet, and I've found that the Kindle is wonderful--for reading novels. But I have yet to really enjoy or benefit from reading nonfiction on a Kindle or tablet.

Unlike novels, nonfiction begs the reader to back up frequently, use end notes and other resources, and in some cases skip from chapter to chapter--things that aren't so easy to do when you're reading an ebook.

I wanted to read this devotional, because I'm a big fan of the CatholicMom.com Daily Gospel Reflections feature behind this book, but I decided not to put it on my Kindle; instead, I went straight to my tablet.

I don't get to pick up my Kindle every day, and I was afraid I'd fall behind on my reading of these reflections if I had the book on my Kindle device.

By adding the free Amazon Kindle app to my tablet, I could put the icon for the Kindle right next to the icon for the Liturgy of the Hours app I use for Morning and Evening Prayer. That gives me the visual reminder I need to open up the Kindle app and jump to the reading of the day.

I didn't download any of the many novels in my Kindle library to my tablet, so the app will always open straight to As Morning Breaks.

I've peeked: this little devotional is packed with good stuff. I've been a fan of many of the writers of these reflections for quite some time, and each of them has a unique perspective on the daily Gospels. (I didn't peek too far ahead, but it was pretty hard to resist, once I got going.)

Whether you read it on a Kindle or use the free app for your Android or iOS device, BlackBerry or computer, your download of As Morning Breaks costs just $2.99, and the proceeds directly benefit the CatholicMom.com website itself.