Letters

Smartphone apps on the Mass

A. Erskine

Contents - Jun 2014 - Buy a copy now Editorial: The significance of Pentecost - Peter Westmore Saints John XXIII and John Paul II canonised - AD2000 Report News: The Church Around the World Chain of generosity from Australia to Nigeria - Madonna Brosnan Frassati Australia: dedicated young adult ministry - Br Barry Coldrey UK Bishop speaks out on secularism's debt to Christianity - CNA REPORT Societal violence and the murder of children - Anne Lastman Fr Des Byrne: priest and catechist extraordinary - Bishop Peter J. Elliott Missions: Salesians appeal for Solomon Islands emergency US Catholic school embroiled in dispute over Church teaching - Kirsten Andersen Why England's churches are empty - Nick Hallett Religious freedom and same-sex 'marriage' - Fr John FLynn LC Sisters of St Paul of Chartres and their global impact - CNA REPORT Letters: Smartphone apps on the Mass - A. Erskine Letters: What about the Roman Missal smartphone app? - Harry O'Regan Letters: Mr Westmore: please put your thing away! - Anne Lastman Letters: Modern slavery report - Laurie Sheehan Letters: Triple J Radio - Arnold Jago Books: HANDING ON THE FAITH IN AN AGE OF DISBELIEF, by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger - Br Barry Coldrey (reviewer) Books: A CATHOLIC ETON? Newman's Oratory School, by Paul Shrimpton - Br Barry Coldrey (reviewer) Books: THE CAMPION SOCIETY: Lay Catholic Action in Australia, by Colin H. Jory - Br Barry Coldrey (reviewer) Books: Order books from www.freedompublishing.com.au Reflection: Eucharistic adoration: path to union with the Holy Trinity - Bishop James Conley

Thank you for the article on apps for following the Mass on my smartphone. In particular, the explanation of the difference between the readings and antiphons used in the English/Australian Mass and the American Mass, was most helpful.

Although the ICEL translation of the Mass into English is common throughout the English-speaking world, the Mass Readings and Psalms in North America use different translations of the scriptures from other parts of the English-speaking world.

In the United States, they use the New American Bible, while Australia, England and Ireland use the Jerusalem Bible with the Grail translation of the Psalms.

This means that apps created in the United States use different readings and responses to those used in Australia.

Although the differences are not substantial, they certainly affect the extent to which apps can be used in different countries.

Unfortunately, this is not clearly explained before users download the apps, either on the iPhone or Android smartphones.

One point which was not made clear in the article is that the Universalis app, which was recommended, is the only one which gives users the option of using either the American or the Australian translations.

A. ERSKINE
Newtown, NSW

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 27 No 5 (June 2014), p. 14