New Liturgy Translation on line? The USCCB addressed the question of an online version of the Revised English Translation of the Roman Missal (3rd ed.). While the option has not been ruled out, it has not been offered. That being said, there are powerful apps out there which offer the new Missal at the fingertips of priests and laity. Universalis has the complete text of the congregation’s parts of the Mass as a free download/print. E-book versions are available. Download free Kindle version of Missal. Download free ePub version of Missal (Sony, Nook etc).
Please note: Missal apps are not precise. Variations in Missals in English-speaking countries are not always accounted for and optional choices may or may not be included in the Missal app for the day’s text. You may wish to verify before using.
The Roman Missal English/Latin ($4.89) Android. Imagine a Missal app created with input from priests and lay people who celebrate or hear Mass daily and work in collaboration with publishers of the Roman Missal since 1989 in English Speaking countries. The result is a comprehensive Missal app designed with an interface that requires minimal navigation when celebrating or attending Mass. Internet connection is not needed to operate. You can even have your texts in Latin, if you prefer. According to the developers: “The app contains all the prayers and readings used in Mass for the Liturgical year. The English texts for the Order of Mass and Prefaces are from the 3rd Edition. The Order of Mass and Prefaces can be displayed in English, Latin or Both. The Entrance and Communion Antiphons, the Gospel Acclamations, and responses to the Psalms are in English and Latin. The app can be used offline, unlike the other Missal apps that require an online connection to download the prayers or readings for the day. Additionally, it contains the complete supplement of the Roman Missal for use in the Philippines (i.e. Simbang Gabi masses, Feast of the Sto. Nino, etc.). We are working to add more supplements for the English speaking dioceses and territories all over the world.
The app has an implementation of the General Roman Calendar that automatically displays the celebration for the day for any day of any year, forever. The app then loads the proper index pages for the respective season. The app has handy buttons that correspond to the ribbon markers in the printed missal.
For the next version which we shall release by the First quarter of 2013, we shall complete the readings for masses of the dead and masses for weddings. By the Second quarter 2013, we shall release the app with the prayers in Latin.”
iMissal- ($4.99) iOS, Android , Blackberry Kindle Fire. Windows Phone version is $6.99. Ordinary Form of the Roman Catholic Mass. Updated to include the new English translation of the Roman Liturgy (3rd ed.). An indispensable component of my iPhone. Here’s a link explaining all the features of this great app which comes fully loaded. Just click the day on the little calendar and voilà, the Liturgy of the Word readings are there in proper order. Easy to read because you can bump up the text size with the zoom-in tool or set it to desired size in settings. Text is re-formatted to fit when you zoom. Very helpful. When in a pinch on the road, it helps. Personally, I no longer use the printed missal in my church pew because this is so much easier to read. Internet/phone connection NOT needed to run this app. Updates include Our Daily Bread; audio readings (requires internet connection) which can aid lectors with pronunciation, HQ video of Mass from CatholicTV (requires internet connection), and much more.
The New Mass ($2.99) for iOS and Android. Reviewed by CatholicTechTalk. Designed to help the laity learn responses in the Revised English Translation of the Roman Missal (3rd ed.) Ideal for those in the pews as it separates out each segment of the Mass offering the present translation, the revised translation and a little catechesis on the “reasons” for each revised translation. This app is very simple to use. The darkened background assures that you won’t have a bright white screen illuminating in your hand, distracting those in the pews. It is nice to have these revised texts with you when traveling, attending churches other than your home parish. With so many nuances in the new English translation, no one can possibly pick up all of them with a few trial runs. This app is valuable to help the congregation learn its new lines with deeper understanding over time. The Gloria and the Creed are the major changes that take time to commit to memory, so this app helps. There are NO Mass readings and no priest parts in this app as it is NOT a complete missal. It is strictly the common text that the congregation recites from a missal.
New Missal (Free) iOS and Android. English version of the Roman Missal (3rd Edition). Imagine an app that offers the Missal in the same format as texting, so following the parts of the Mass is intuitive to you. Screen shot is on the right, but check out more on the linked site so you can get a good idea of how this works. Complete with readings which can be synched ahead of time. German and Spanish versions also available. Offers adjustable text size and reflections on the readings.
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Laudete [Formerly "Catholic One"] (Free) iOs and Android. This probably is the #1 free Catholic app because it is the most comprehensive. Available in English, Español, Português, Italiano, Bahasa and Polski. Daily Mass Readings, New American Bible, Rosary, Chaplet of Divine Mercy (on Rosary screen), Stations of the Cross, various prayers and prayers in Latin with English translation. Podcast for Rosary and Stations. Daily Meditations. Podcasts of Daily Readings and meditations. Launcher for iCatholicRadio. Ability to bookmark prayers and create own categorized prayers. Export/Import for prayers. NAB Bible when connected to internet only. It also offers Douay-Rheims Bible which is local so you don’t need to be connected to the internet. This makes for a large file, so they recommend moving the app to your phone’s SD card. This app also includes LOTS of prayers. Here’s another review from a user.
iBreviary Terra Sancta (Free) - for iOS and Blackberry and Android and Kindle Fire and the new Kindle Fire HD. Don’t let the name fool you. It is NOT JUST A BREVIARY…IT’S THE COMPLETE ROMAN MISSAL (3rd ed.) and more. There is a learning curve for priests navigating the Sacramentary, but it is fairly easy to master after a few run-throughs. You get:
- Liturgy of the Hours (Roman and Ambrosian Rite)
- Roman and Ambrosian Missal
- Application available in English, Italian, French, Latin, Spanish
- Mass readings (full lectionary) for the current day [but cumbersome to navigate to from the Missal]
- Missal and Breviary for the celebrations of the Saints. (also the commons)
- Main prayers of the Catholic tradition
- About Saints Day (short bio and picture)
- Load up to 10 days to use off-line
- Ordinary of the Mass and rituals according to the Vetus Ordo of 1962.
- Available for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Android, mobile version, widgets. Click here to access the web version on your web-based device like Kindle (must be connected to internet).
With iPad it can be used in place of the traditional missal on the altar! But world-wide, the debate on the propriety of this use continues. Some priests object to this unless in a pinch. Others have had a great experience with using an iPad in place of a printed missal. New Zeland bishops have forbidden its use by priests in that country. You need internet/phone connection to operate this app. However, you can download a week of liturgies stored in a separate cache in case you are going to be in an area with no internet access (like your sanctuary!) Make sure all the particular texts you need are there before beginning Mass. This app is not biased toward the United States calendar, for example.
USA Today report and this report. Vatican endorsed.
Catholic’s Companion Windows Phone (Free or .99 cents) The free version of A Catholic’s Companion has ads. To get this app without ads check out the paid version of Catholic’s Companion for 99 cents. Among the many features of this app you will find daily Mass readings (no Missal). If you want to watch a video of the day’s Mass on line, it has a direct link to CatholicTV’s filmed daily Mass. On a Windows Phone 8 the speed with which you access this video is incredible.
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Catholic Cheat Sheet- (Free with ads; $.99 w/0 adds) iOS, Android- Text of the Mass (NEW English translation included), a bunch of prayers and listing of “beliefs” so that you have answers with you at all times. Review by Catholic Tech Talk: “This is the perfect app to have Catholic answers at your disposal at any point in time. One of the best features is the order of the Mass INCLUDING the New Mass [translation]…”
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Magnificat (Free to subscribers of print edition/$1.99 per month) iOS only. The official texts of the daily Mass. The App is free for subscribers to the printed version of the USA edition. Otherwise, it is free from the day you install the App, until the end of the month, then buy each month for $1.99. Presented in a day-by-day format, the MAGNIFICAT App includes: morning, evening, and night prayers inspired by the Liturgy of the Hours; readings and prayers of each daily Mass; daily meditations drawn from the best writings of the Church Fathers as well as recent spiritual masters; and essays on the lives of the saints from yesterday and today.
