Catholic Short Prayers Lite

St. Paul urged the first Christians to pray without ceasing, and short prayers are how most of us come anywhere close. Catholic Short Prayers Lite is built on that idea. It is a free collection of the short prayers Catholics say throughout the day: the Sign of the Cross, the Our Father, the Hail Mary, the Glory Be, the Apostles' Creed, a morning offering, a prayer to the Holy Spirit and more. These are prayers for a spare moment, a red light or the minute before a meeting.

What it offers

The collection is basic, and that is the point. Rather than a large library to search, you get the essential prayers every Catholic learns, gathered in one place. It is free, runs on iPhone and iPad, and holds a 4.7 rating from 138 users, which suggests it has served plenty of people well.

Because these prayers are the foundations of Catholic life, the app works well as a learning tool. A child memorising the Apostles' Creed or a new Catholic learning the Glory Be can keep the words close at hand until they become second nature.

Things to know

The app hasn't been updated since 2017. That is a long time, and older apps can look dated or misbehave on newer iPhones. The prayers themselves don't change, so if it runs well on your device, its age matters less than it would for a readings app. It also offers little beyond the prayers, so if you want a guided Rosary or the daily readings, you will need another app.

It suits children learning their prayers, new Catholics and those preparing to enter the Church, and anyone who wants a quick prayer book for brief moments through the day. Parents may find it handy at bedtime.

The verdict: Catholic Short Prayers Lite is a simple, free pocket prayer book for the prayers that matter most. Just know it is an older app that may no longer be maintained.