“Bible App” for Mac OS X on Mac App Store

SALT LAKE CITY, UT, (June 1, 2011)—The Divine Office Catholic Ministry in partnership with Surgeworks, a Salt Lake City-based application developer and graphical interaction design firm, has announced a new app for the Apple Mac App Store based on 20 versions of the Bible in six different languages.

The Bible App features scriptures in English, German, Italian, French, Spanish and Croatian. Users can access twenty English, Latin and Greek versions of the Bible:

- American Standard Version (ASV)
- American King James Version (AKJV)
- Darby Bible (DBY)
- Douay-Rheims Bible, Challoner Revision (DRB)
- King James Version (KJV)
- World English Bible (WEB)
- Young’s Literal Translation (YLT)
- (Latin) Biblia Sacra Vulgata (Latin Vulgate)
- (Greek) New Testament 1550
- (Greek) New Testament 1894

In addition, the Bible App allows users to compare multiple translations in different windows. An internal search engine searches for a specific keyword, an exact phrase or a passage using a standard notation (such as John 1:1-18). Users can highlight verses and access all selections from convenient, dedicated screens where searches and highlights are organized by bible version and date.

“We are extremely pleased to bring the Bible app to our devoted community of Catholics and Christians around the world. It is the perfect complement to the Divine Office Catholic Ministry’s suite of prayer apps for Mac computers and Apple iOS mobile devices,” Dane Falkner of Divine Office commented.


The Divine Office Catholic Ministry currently offers several apps:

- Bible App for Mac —20 searchable versions of the Holy Bible in 6 languages

- Divine Office—complete resource for praying the Liturgy of the Hours, available for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Android and Mac

- Prayers for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch—reference of Catholic prayers in several languages

- Divine Office: Morning Prayer (Lauds), Evening Prayer (Vespers) and Night Prayer (Compline) for iPhone and iPod Touch—audio Liturgy of the Hours

- The Bible App is scheduled for release in the Mac App Store on June 1st, 2011.




This treasury of prayers, now released on Kindle, will help you go to the Lord with courage and pray to receive God's grace.


Sometimes, the Pope said of prayers and devotions, one goes to the Lord "to ask something for someone;" one asks for a favor and then goes away. "But that," he warned, "is not prayer," because if "you want the Lord to bestow a grace, you have to go with courage and do what Abraham did, with that sort of tenacity."

This comprehensive treasury of Catholic prayer includes everyday prayers, devotionals, how to pray the rosary, litanies, the Stations of the Cross, Eucharistic prayers, prayers to prepare for confession, prayers to the saints, Marian prayers, family prayers, and more.

Award-Winning Children's Literature

CHANDLER, AZ (June 14, 2011) – The judges of the 2011 Purple Dragonfly Book Awards contest, which recognizes excellence in children's literature, have spoken. Our Treasure, written by Michele Elena Bondi and illustrated by Kristina Marie Pope, is the winner of two second place awards in the Educational/Instructional and Religion categories, and three honorable mentions in the Children’s Picture Book, Best Cover Design, and Best Illustrations categories.

“Winning any place in the Purple Dragonfly Contest is a huge honor because in order to maintain the integrity of the Dragonfly Book Awards, a minimum score of 72 out of 80 must be earned for a 1st Place award, 64 out of 80 for a 2nd Place and 56 out of 80 for an Honorable Mention,” explains Linda Radke, president of Five Star Publications, the sponsor of the Dragonfly Book Awards. “Competition is steep, too, because there is no publication date limit as long as the book is still in print.”

In Our Treasure, children learn that there is priceless Treasure waiting for them whenever they want to become very rich. Do you know where “Our Treasure” can be found? The beautiful hardcover keepsake picture book about the Eucharist, published by Joseph Karl Publishing (2010), retails for $16.00 and can be purchased at Joseph Karl Publishing, Amazon.com, Baker & Taylor, Quality Books Inc., and Faith @ Work. For a complete list of winners including all 1st and 2nd places and Honorable Mentions, visit www.FiveStarBookAwards.com and click on “Winners.”

The Chocolate Dragonfly Book Awards contest, which is open to any and all books about or relating in some way to food, is already underway with an August 1 deadline for entries; as is the Royal Dragonfly Book Awards, which honors all genres of books in 50 categories, with a February 1, 2012 deadline. However, Royal Dragonfly submissions postmarked December 1, 2011 or earlier are eligible for the Early Bird reward: a free e-copy of The Economical Guide to Self-Publishing or Promote Like a Pro: Small Budget, Big Show. The 3rd Annual Purple Dragonfly Book Awards contest will launch following notification of the Chocolate Dragonfly winners.

For complete winners' lists including 2nd Place and Honorable Mention wins, rules and entry forms for any of the Dragonfly Book Awards contests, visit www.FiveStarBookAwards.com. For more details on Five Star Publications, email info@FiveStarPublications.com or call 480-940-8182.

Also by Michele Elena Bondi, Your Personal Apostolate: Accepting and Sharing the Love of God.

Visit Fatima Online

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (May 13, 2011) - Ninety-four years ago today, three Portuguese youngsters were contemplating the miraculous apparition they’d just experienced. From that day forward, those children – and the tiny village of Fatima – offered the world a new message of hope through the Virgin Mary’s fervent call to prayer, penance and conversion.

On the 94th anniversary of Our Lady’s first appearance to Francisco and Jacinta Marto and their cousin, Lucia dos Santo, Ignatius Press today launched a website, FatimaForToday.com, devoted to Our Lady of Fatima and available resources for anyone interested in exploring the mysteries and blessings of Fatima.

FatimaForToday.com provides quick access to a variety of books and videos on Our Lady of Fatima, and it enables parishes and organizations to schedule Fatima-related events – including visits by Fr. Andrew Apostoli, C.F.R., one of the world’s foremost experts on Fatima.

“We are thrilled and humbled by the opportunity to bring FatimaForToday.com to life on the 94th anniversary of Our Lady’s first appearance at Fatima,” said Ignatius Press President Mark Brumley. “The message of Fatima is as relevant and important today as it was when Mary first presented it to the children. We hope that the new website will support that message by serving as the source for information and resources covering every aspect of Fatima.”

“The message of Fatima has often been described as a brief summary of the essentials of Christian living,” Fr. Apostoli writes in his new book, Fatima for Today. “Our lady of Fatima has given us a great reminder of these essentials for our difficult times.”

In addition to Fr. Apostoli’s book, the new website provides access to the groundbreaking film The 13th Day and the follow-up docu-drama Finding Fatima. Also available is information on a booklet What Happened at Fatima, published by Catholic Truth Society, and a variety of other books and videos that will bring Fatima to life for people of all ages. There’s even a Fatima coloring book for children!

Fr. Apostoli, a founding member of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, has been teaching and preaching retreats and parish missions for several decades. He hosted the EWTN TV special “Our Lady of Fatima and First Saturday Devotion,” and Catholic TV developed and aired a three-part series on Fatima for Today earlier this year.

More resources for visiting Fatima online:

www.fatima.org
www.ewtn.com/fatima/index.htm

www.culturalcatholic.com/LadyFatima.htm

Pope Benedict XVI and Fatima

Catholic Apps: Free Mobile Apps for Download from Pauline Books & Media

Boston, MA (May 26, 2011) - Pauline Books & Media and the Daughters of St. Paul are excited to announce the release of a new series of free mobile apps for iPhones, iPads, and Android phones. Called “Catholic Bookmarks,” these apps offer peace, solace, comfort, and hope to those in need of reassurance in God’s unconditional love and mercy.

Pauline Books & Media Catholic Bookmarks smartphone format offers users a unique way to explore the Catholic tradition on-the-go, right in the midst of their daily lives.

Each app features:
  • 25 excerpts from a popular Pauline Books & Media book with the same title as the app
  • Message from the author
  • Handy navigation
  • Intuitive and beautiful interface
  • Integration with e-mail, Twitter, etc. for easy sharing with others
These latest additions to Pauline Books & Media’s growing collection of Catholic apps continues to demonstrate the publishing house’s passion for the mission of evangelization through all modern means available.

The following apps are currently available in Catholic Bookmarks for download on Android Market and iTunes: Surviving Depression, Making Peace with Yourself, and See Yourself through God’s Eyes.

We hope that these free app downloads will be helpful aids to guide users to deepen their faith and discover the love God has for them. If you enjoy these downloads, please consider posting reviews/ratings on the iTunes app store and Android Market.