Compline: a free app for learning the Liturgy of the Hours, the night prayer

The Roman Catholic Church has two great prayers to be said by the faithful: the Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours.  Until I went through the School for Pastoral Ministry at the Oakland Diocese, I had not heard of the Liturgy of the Hours.  This is a prayer form you can do on your own, or with a group, or organize for your parish church.

This free app gives you the night prayer, "Compline", which is centuries old.  Compline is the last prayer said at night, and reflects back over the day just past.  The folks at DivineOffice.org give a full explanation on their website.

The Compline app has the prayers in writing and in audio, so you can pray the responses along with the readers.  Nice way to learn if you are not familiar with these prayers.


Website for Divine Office: http://divineoffice.org/

Apple App Store page: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/night-prayer-compline-audio/id337995045?mt=8

Cost: Free

Where I Found It: iTunes

iPadre: App, Website, Podcast from Fr. Jay Finelli

One of my all time favorite Catholic podcasts is “iPadre” by Father Jay Finelli.

He always begins his show with excellent Christian music.  Then, Fr. Jay answers questions on the Roman Catholic faith from listeners, and addresses a timely topic of faith.  Fr. Jay has done shows on the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Blessed Kateri (an Iroquois woman on her way to being the first Native American Saint), the Holiness of Marriage, interviews with nuns and seminarians to help us understand the call to vocations, and so on.  Fr. Jay presents his material in a very understandable and pastoral manner.  A great way to know your faith so you can grown in your faith.

The iPadre App is very nice and easy to use.  (See screen captures below).  I bought it through the iTunes App Store.  The iPadre app makes it easy to listen to the podcast, and to send in feedback.

The iPadre podcast is free on iTunes

The App is $2.  Here is the iTunes store page:  http://j.mp/9J4dsJ#pdcst

Father Jay’s website is:   http://www.ipadre.net/

Father Jay has a fan page on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/groups/18140513512/

New English Translation of the Roman Missal: Getting to Know Your Part

At my prayer group this past week, we went through the people's parts of the Roman Missal, comparing the current wording with the new wording.  We spent time pondering the meaning of the words, and the mysteries that God brings us in the Holy Eucharist.  You can find all you need to know on the web:

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has a great website on the new English translation: http://old.usccb.org/romanmissal/

The comparison of the new and old wording of the laity's speaking parts is at: http://old.usccb.org/romanmissal/samples-people.shtml

I was raised Lutheran (and converted to the Roman Catholic Church about 15 years ago): the "new" text sounds familiar to me.  The other women in my prayer group also found the "new" text to be very familiar from their Catholic childhood.

What thoughts does pondering the words of the Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass bring to you?

Blessed John Paul II on the Dignity of Work

"Awareness that man's work is a participation in God's activity ought to permeate even the most ordinary everyday activities. For, while providing the substance of life for themselves and their families, men and women are performing their activities in a way which appropriately benefits society. They can justly consider that by their labor they are unfolding the Creator's work, consulting the advantages of their brothers and sisters, and contributing by their personal industry to the realization in history of the divine plan."

      -- Blessed John Paul II, Laborem Exercens (On Work) 

Catholic Social Teaching Resources: 

"The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers" is just one of the seven themes of Catholic Social Teaching.  Learn more from:

• The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (http://tinyurl.com/BishopsSocialTeaching) and 
• Pope Benedict XVI (http://tinyurl.com/CatholicSocialTeaching).

The image above is from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website, on the page "Transforming Our World: Our Catholic Faith in Action": 
 http://nccbuscc.org/campus/teaching-worker.shtml