Advent Apps bring the season’s journey to your mobile device

From digital Advent wreaths for your mobile device to Advent calendars to daily retreats, we showcase some of the better quality Advents apps out there to help you in your journey following the true Star in this season of Hope.

Traditional Advent Calendar

XT3 Advent Calendar 2014 (Free) iOS, Android Your personal Advent journey begins with a traditional Advent calendar. We loved these as kids, but don’t we still enjoy opening a calendar window each day to reveal a new gift? In this app you’ll get a little multimedia element to go along with a valuable daily reflection and Scripture passage. The calendar begins on the first day of Advent 2014 which is November 30. You will only be able to view the calendar features up to the present date, so no sneak peaks into future days’ digital gifts. Internet connection required. HD version recommended for tablets.

Please check out xt3’s compelling video putting the Advent season into perspective. It also showcases a bit of their app at the tail end.

Prepare for Christmas with a little Advent devotion on-the-go!

Pray-As-You-Go (Free) offers its popular audio Advent Retreat, a digital audio retreat available as a podcast from iTunes podcast feeds or off their web site or off their free app, Pray-As-You-Go iOS , Android.  Produced by Jesuit Media Initiatives out of Britain, in collaboration with Sacred Space , the audio retreat invites you to spend about about 11 minutes per day in a systematic method of prayer and meditation as you listen to and reflect on God’s word along with gentle reflections offered by the Jesuits.

From developers: “This year’s Advent Retreat entitled, All the Generations, takes its theme from the first chapter of Matthew, looking at the genealogy of Jesus from Abraham to Mary and Joseph. More details will be released closer to Advent.”

You will enjoy the wide variety of music in these podcasts which you can purchase via links on the Pray-As-You-Go web site. The music has become a popular feature at Pray-As-You-Go, as you will discover!

Advent Companion 2014 ($.99) iOS, and as an e-book on Kindle, Nook, Kobo. English. The paperback print version is sold out, but you can get the electronic version any time. The app version is only for iOS format [iPhone/iPad/iPodTouch] English, French and Spanish. From the publishers of Magnificat:

• a practical, page-a-day format featuring original meditations on the Gospel reading of each day by nineteen gifted authors.
• Each issue of the Advent Companion is never the same as the last and contains these one-of-a-kind extras that you won’t find anywhere else:
  • a variety of beautiful blessings and essays
  • an Advent Penance Service
  • specially-commissioned poetry
  • a unique feature: the Advent Stations

Here is a review of a previous version.

Load nifty Advent wreaths on your smart phone. We’ve got you covered for iOS and Android.

Virtual Advent Wreath ($.99) iOS. This is my favorite advent wreath app. It is as realistic as it gets. No prayers, a little background music (which you can turn off). You light the realistic candles in a lovely low-light setting and just pray on your own. Peaceful and serene. The flames respond to rotation of the device. And you can blow the candle(s) out–literally. I’m serious! So cool. Annoying ads at the opening, but once you’re in the virtual wreath, it’s just you and your candles. I have had this on in the middle of the night when I just want to pray a bit. Extremely realistic – and safer than the real thing.

Advent Wreath ($.99) Android. This app misses the fancy, realistic graphic sizzle we have come to expect in apps these days but, hey, it works if all you need is a simple Advent wreath in the palm of your hand. From developer:  ”Touch the wicks to light the candles and enjoy the peaceful, soothing flickering of the flames. Easily gather your friends and family for your very own Advent Wreath lighting no matter how busy you are.” Here’s a cool feature: the candles slowly burn down as the days of Advent pass by. You also have the option to turn the burn rate up for a more dramatic effect.

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Advent Wreath Live ($.99) Android only. Live Advent wreath wallpaper From developer: Beautiful 3D rendering counts down the days until Christmas in style. Candles sync to your device calendar and burn down as the weeks of Advent pass. Note: This is a Live Wallpaper, not an app. After installing, long press on your Home Screen to access the Live Wallpaper chooser.

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