Magdalene Prayers vs Common Prayer App

The inspiration for this app comes from an adult education program we had at Holy Cross on prayer. My dear friend and colleague at Holy Cross, The Rev. Martha Kuhlmann, brought her Mary Magdalene Anglican prayer beads to share with our group. I was so taken by the thought of a prayer bead meditation tool around one of my patron saints, Mary Magdalene, I immediately set out to create this app, as I was not inclined to haul around prayer beads with me wherever I go, and my phone is always with me! A perfect match! The genesis of Anglican Prayer Beads is a gift to the world from the Episcopal Diocese of Texas in the later 20th century. Unlike its Roman Catholic cousin, the Anglican version has 33 beads, divided into four groups of seven beads called weeks. The image I chose for each day of the weeks is a red egg. This egg image is to pay homage to the wonderful story of Mary of Magdala sharing the gospel with Caesar. The Roman Ruler declared that Jesus could no more rise from the dead than the egg Mary held could turn to red. And before their eyes, it turned bright red. The prayers I chose for this app are the prayers that are regularly on my heart. The app is designed to provide space to tap and pray! I specifically decided not to add any background music, so there is no concern of disturbing other passengers on a daily commute. I hope you can find space in your day to say your prayers.

Common Prayer is a quiet, faithful companion for the Anglican life of prayer — the Daily Office, the Church year, and the discipline of fasting, all kept according to the Book of Common Prayer (1979). Whether you are new to the prayer book or have prayed it for decades, Common Prayer gives you the whole shape of the day without flipping pages or chasing lectionary references. Open the app and the right office, the right readings, and the right collect are simply there. THE DAILY OFFICE Pray Morning Prayer, Noonday Prayer, Evening Prayer, and Compline in full (Rite II), with everything resolved for today — psalms, the appointed lessons, the Collect of the Day, and the seasonal variations already in place. Pray on your own, or use the family form of the office together. SCRIPTURE, IN YOUR TRANSLATION Read the lessons in the King James Version offline, or choose the NIV, NIrV, or NASB 2020. The full Psalter is always close at hand. THE WHOLE CHURCH YEAR See where you stand in the liturgical calendar at a glance — the season, the week, the color. Holy Days and Principal Feasts are observed on their proper dates, with the prayer book's transfer rules handled for you, and optional commemorations of the saints surfaced day by day. KEEP THE FASTS AND FEASTS Common Prayer knows the days of fasting and special devotion appointed by the prayer book, and tells you plainly what today asks of you — and when the next fast falls. A DIGITAL FAST FOR DISTRACTING APPS Fasting has always meant setting something aside. Common Prayer lets you extend that discipline to your phone: using Apple's Screen Time controls, you choose which apps to quiet during a fast, and the app gently holds them shut until the day is done. Nothing leaves your device — it is simply a way to keep the fast you've chosen. PRACTICES FOR A DEEPER LIFE OF PRAYER - The Anglican Rosary, prayed with scripture and devotional cycles - The Daily Examen and the Examen of Conscience - Lectio Divina - The Great Litany - A library of Occasional Prayers and Thanksgivings TO LEARN AND TO REMEMBER The Catechism (An Outline of the Faith), the Thirty-Nine Articles, and the historic Creeds are included for reference and formation. BUILT TO STAY OUT OF THE WAY - Home Screen widgets that show today's office and season - Gentle reminders for the offices and the eve of a fast or feast - Siri Shortcuts to begin any office or practice by voice - Seasonal app icons, light and dark themes - Designed with care for larger text, high contrast, and unhurried reading PRIVACY Common Prayer collects no personal data. Your prayer life is your own.