No need to lug volumes of spiritual readings around—God’s on your smartphone.

It took me months to save up the money to buy the four leather-bound volumes of the liturgy of the hours. As the 28-year-old primary breadwinner of a family of five, the $39.99 per volume set was not a high priority in our budget.

But after pinching every penny, I purchased all four volumes in a pristine white box. The next day I proudly showed off one volume, with its eight bookmark ribbons, to a friend.

"Isn't this great?" I asked.

"Oh yeah," he said, "I love the liturgy of the hours. Ever since I've been able to access them through my cell phone, I've gotten into praying them almost every day."

"Your cell phone?" I asked, sure that he was mistaken.

"Didn't you know?" he grinned. "There's an app for that, and it's free."
The Internet has given us access to an unimaginable amount of information. More recently smartphones, such as Apple's iPhone and Google's Android, have placed this access into the palm of our hands. Users can download countless applications that do everything from tracking their daily calorie intake to editing silly photos of their cats.

Like many, I've been quick to embrace technology in the way I communicate, play games, and consume news, but I had never thought about how it could affect my faith.

Pope Benedict XVI has called Catholics to "bear witness to [their] faith through the digital world." But in the seemingly endless sea of information out there, how do you know where to start? Lucky for you, I've navigated these waters. Here are some of my favorite apps.

iMissal
$4.99 (iPhone and Android)

iMissal is the best resource for daily Mass readings, helping you follow along and fully appreciate the church's liturgical year, even if you're unable to attend daily Mass. While many other apps include links to daily readings, iMissal is the easiest to use and offers the most polished user experience.

Recent updates to the app include videos of daily Mass provided by CatholicTV.com. Other functions of iMissal duplicate those that can be found in other applications, including a helpful collection of Catholic prayers.

iMissal does not require an Internet connection to download daily readings, allowing you to turn your phone on airplane mode to avoid receiving calls, e-mails, and texts if you want to run the app at Mass. Warning: Pulling your phone out in church may earn you some suspect glances from your fellow parishioners.

iConfess
$2.99 (iPhone only)

Unlike iMissal, iConfess is effective because it does one thing very well. iConfess includes prayers for confessions, resources for examination of conscience, and a helpful "Frequently Asked Questions" section with an overview of the sacrament.

iConfess, however, also serves as a true assistant in helping the devout practice the sacrament of reconciliation. It includes a notepad for keeping track of things you'd like to remember for your next confession and a log of when you made your last confession. The option to password-protect the application is a thoughtful addition if you want keep this information to yourself.

3-Minute Retreat
$0.99 for iPhone application or free online at loyolapress.com

If you've ever found yourself needing a few moments of spiritual renewal in the midst of a hectic day, Loyola Press's 3-Minute Retreat is your invitation to remember the presence of God and to place yourself therein.

Each retreat begins with a prompt to clear your mind and focus in on some attribute or promise of God, followed by a short scripture reading, questions prompting meditation, and a final prayer. Soft music plays in the background, but this can easily be turned on or off based on your preference.