Laudate (laudate.com) is an Internet Catholic mega-site that has been in existence for some years. It continues to grow in devotional features. The app is available for FREE (We like free, right? It’s a terrific single-source app for a variety of Catholic needs.

Some sections of Laudate are dedicated to daily readings. Some feature the saint of the day. It contains several features to enrich your prayer life. That would include the Liturgy of the Hours, a section of the Rosary, and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy (in English and Latin). In terms of liturgy and sacraments, it contains sections about the Roman Missal changes, the Order of the Mass, and Confession. Devotional practices such as daily examination of conscience and Stations of the Cross are part of the app. The New American and Douay Rheims bibles are included as well as Vatican documents.

Most people do not have time to sit down and study the faith. So Laudate has a link to Catholic Bytes. The goal of Catholic Bytes is to offer dynamic catechesis for busy people on the move. It offers short, dynamic podcast talks about the faith. There are Podcasts with “pray as you go” daily meditations, daily readings, and reflections by Pope Emeritus Benedict XXVI.

The app’s features are designed to offer these episodes to learn more about Catholicism or to grow in a relationship with the Lord. This is done in short, 10–15-minute sessions. Episodes offer listeners a variety of themes ranging from faith fundamentals, Scripture, dogma, morals liturgy, spirituality, saints, and Church history.

Glorify – Christian Daily Devotional (Glorify-app.com) is another app that is rich in content. It imvolves a community of over 1 million Christians. They connect with God daily through Christian Meditation, Bible Stories, and Prayer.

You can calm your mind with Christian meditations and devotionals. These are designed to inspire tranquility and improve the quality of your sleep. Prayer and devotional topics include Calm and Tranquility, Better Sleep, Growing Confidence in God, Unlocking Inner Peace, Overcoming Anxiety, Healing from Grief, Parenting, and Marriage.

The app allows you to explore the Bible from Genesis through to Revelation. This can be done through a personal bible journal. The journal is designed to encourage reflection and learning while enhancing your spiritual journey.

You can develop a structure for your daily worship with handpicked Bible verses, devotionals, and Christian meditation. Create space easily every day for reflection with music and prayers. Connect with God daily through daily worship. Grow in faith and love through the word of God, while advancing your bible study with journaling. Calm your mind and achieve better sleep with Christian Meditation and Prayer.

There are also Bible Stories for Kids.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, (ESV) tells us to, “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you”. Impossible, right? These apps are some of the best “one-stop shopping” places for faith and spiritual resources. They provide ways to practice what St. Paul said about “Praying without ceasing.”

Let me close with a “pray without ceasing” story. I came across a narrative about John Newton. He was the clergyman who wrote the hymn, Amazing Grace. He and some fellow theologians were discussing what it meant to “pray without ceasing.” A maid walked into the meeting. One of the ministers casually said to the maid, “Maybe you can tell us what it means to pray without ceasing.”

She said to them, “Oh, sirs, that’s not a problem. When I get up in the morning, I cloth myself, I pray that the Lord Jesus might cloth me with His righteousness today. When I came down here, before you men came, I dusted the furniture. I prayed that He might cleanse me from the filth of my soul. When I set before you this food and this drink, I prayed that Jesus Christ might be my meat and drink until life eternal. So, Sirs, I just kind of pray my way through the day.”

I think that’s a good idea about what it means to pray without ceasing.

Blessings and Peace to you as we journey together in Encountering Christ in Word, Liturgy, Charity, and Community. From a Saint Monica Sojourner