Best Liturgy of the Hours app?

[PazzoGrande]

There are several apps that have it. Which is the best, and why? I’d like to know since the full versions are paid apps, so I don’t waste money on something that isn’t great.

Music is a factor, as is the quality of the narration for me. Any other factors I should watch out for?

What apps have you tried and what do you think of them?

Thanks!

 

[Scottgun]

Paid version of Universalis in my opinion. Uses Grail translations for Psalms. It has option for Jerusalem translation of Scripture. Overall easy to use.

 

[tee_eff_em]

Paid…?

It’s been a while since I’ve had it installed, but iBreviary was free last I looked.

tee

 

[Phemie]

Paid version of Universalis in my opinion. Uses Grail translations for Psalms. It has option for Jerusalem translation of Scripture. Overall easy to use.

I’ve got the paid version but it’s a read only, isn’t it? Or have I missed something for the last 2 years?

Divine Office app has music. I use it mainly for Compline, where the hymn is always sung though the selection and singer are not necessarily everyone’s cup of tea and the ending Marian piece is often sung also. I do find it odd that they sing Grieg’s Ave Maris Stella but simply recite the Salve Regina in English - I often switch to a youtube simple tone Salve Regina at that time.

I’ve used it for Morning Prayer when depending on the day they also sing the Psalm.

 

[Phemie]

Paid…?

It’s been a while since I’ve had it installed, but iBreviary was free last I looked.

tee

I think the OP is looking for a spoken version, which Divine Liturgy offers. From what I see at iBreviary it’s pretty much an E-book, like Universalis’s offering.

 

[Augustine]

Paid version of Universalis in my opinion. Uses Grail translations for Psalms. It has option for Jerusalem translation of Scripture. Overall easy to use.

The Universalis version is not the official one, so those obligated to pray the Divine Office will not be fulfilling their obligation with this version.

iBreviary provides the official version and is free.

Pax Christi

 

[anonymous_in_fl]

iBreviary is the best.
Comes in several languages including Latin.
Has a feature you can turn on/turn off that “speaks” or reads the text out loud for you.

 

[phil19034]

I really like the Divine Office app – divineoffice.org

It is filled with recordings so you can pray along with the recording and they use sacred music too

God Bless

 

[OraLabora]

iBreviary is the best.
Comes in several languages including Latin.
Has a feature you can turn on/turn off that “speaks” or reads the text out loud for you.

I’ve only used it a few times but in that time noticed some mistakes, for example June 24th (St. John the Baptist) being a feast and not a solemnity. I used it in French, I haven’t checked the English. I noticed a few other errors as well, so it kind of turned me off it. I just carry a copy of the LOTH wherever I go, or if I must use a device, I used the ALEF French on-line version (ALEF is the French equivalent of ICEL but the translations aren’t as controversial!)

 

[InThePew]

The Universalis version is not the official one, so those obligated to pray the Divine Office will not be fulfilling their obligation with this version.

iBreviary provides the official version and is free.

Pax Christi

The advantage that Universalis has is that it provides the complete text of the LOTH offline, as opposed to iBreviary which only lets you download up to a week in advance to read offline. As far as whether either one is “official”, it really depends on one’s particular diocese or congregation but to hazard a guess I’d say that no apps have been "approved"as such although that said, the translation used is more important than the format.

 

[pnewton]

I like Universalis as it also includes information about the day and the Mass of the day.

 

[His_helpmeet]

There are several apps that have it. Which is the best, and why? I’d like to know since the full versions are paid apps, so I don’t waste money on something that isn’t great.

Music is a factor, as is the quality of the narration for me. Any other factors I should watch out for?

What apps have you tried and what do you think of them?

Thanks!

I use iBreviary and LOVE it. It’s free.

 

[JohnnyK]

Laudate!

 

[Bookcat]

Books

 

[OraLabora]

Books

Personally, I agree. The best app I have would be my dog-eared volumes of the Liturgy of the Hours. Some volumes have a bit of strategically-placed tape to hold them together, usually hidden under a well-worn leather cover.

There have been the odd times though, when an app came in handy like yesterday when my wife’s ophthalmologist appointment dragged on, and I had forgotten my breviary; I was her chauffeur as it was a dilated retina exam and it was in a city 100 km from home. We were going out to dinner afterwards with our son, so I went to www.aelf.org while waiting for her in the waiting room, to pray Vespers. It’s my “go-to” app for situations like this.

For most here though it would be pretty useless, it’s all in French

ALEF is the French equivalent of ICEL and it’s their official website using the official French translations. I find it better than iBreviary in French because there are fewer errors.

The other times I use an app is if I’m cycling. Weight is enemy no. 1 on a road bike