Lenten Magnificat Companion 2018

Lent asks a lot of us: more prayer, more attention to Scripture and an honest look at our lives before confession. Having the day's prayers and readings gathered in one place can make those forty days much easier to keep. That's what Magnificat set out to do with its Lenten Companion.

What the app includes

The Lenten Companion covers Ash Wednesday through Easter Sunday in a day-by-day format. Each day brings the prayers and Scripture readings of the Mass, a cycle of morning, evening and night prayer inspired by the Liturgy of the Hours, and a spiritual meditation for that day of Lent. Alongside the daily material you'll find essays, poetry that captures the season, devotional prayers for different occasions and chants for Lent and Easter that you can listen to while you read and pray.

One especially practical feature is a penance service to help you prepare for your Lenten confession. For many people, confession is the part of Lent most easily put off, and having a guided preparation on your phone removes one more excuse.

Things to know

This review covers the 2018 edition. A companion like this is tied to a single liturgical year, so check the App Store for the current edition before you rely on it. The edition we reviewed was offered for $1.99, a small cost for six weeks of daily prayer material. The liturgical texts come from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and ICEL.

Because it is a seasonal app, it won't have much to offer once Easter arrives. If you'd like the same format all year round, the main Magnificat app follows the same pattern of daily prayer, readings and meditation.

The Lenten Companion is a good fit for anyone who wants a structured Lent without juggling several books or apps, and for those who already appreciate Magnificat's style. Our verdict: a well-planned guide to the season, worth looking for each year as Ash Wednesday approaches.