During Lent, many Catholics aim to increase their time in silent prayer and reflection leading up to Easter Sunday. Because silence can be one of the hardest things to come by in today’s noisy society, giving up the radio in the car—music, news and talk radio; on the commute to work or school or while shuttling around throughout the day—can turn one’s car into a mobile prayer corner. But for those times when the silence is getting to you (it’s just too quiet) the Denver Catholic has compiled a few suggestions of holy voices to keep you company, via smartphone, iPod or CD, during the commute.
Daily readings
Listen to daily readings via smartphone using the Laudete application. In addition to the readings, Laudete, a free app, provides daily reflections and an interactive rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet, along with other prayers and reflections.
Homilies
Listen to a homily. Archbishop Samuel Aquila’s latest homilies are available here. Other bishops who post their homilies online include Philadelphia Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., and Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York. Father Robert Barron of Word on Fire ministries also records a weekly homily here.
Prayer
Pray the rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet along with the Mary Foundation. The foundation offers free CDs at www.catholicity.com. In addition to the rosary CD, there are several talks by priests and theologians available on the website. Pray the Stations of the Cross with the Archdiocese of Denver’s new audio recording available at http://archden.org/eflm/way.
Podcasts
Tune into the lighthearted podcast of Father John Nepil from Queen of Peace Parish and Father Nathan Goebel from St. Frances Cabrini Parish in Littleton, who have been leading discussions on topics of the faith on “Catholic Stuff You Should Know” for the last five years. It is available at www.catholicstuffpodcast.com. Father Peter Mussett, pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Boulder, and Scott Powell, director of scriptural formation at St. Thomas Aquinas team up each week for a podcast on the Sunday readings called “The Lanky Guys” available at www.lankyguys.org. There are also several podcasts available from EWTN, including Mother Angelica and weekly homilies, at www.ewtn.com/podcast.
Passengers
Fewer distractions in the car can also provide a good time to chat with the family members, friends or colleagues riding with you. Take time to pray a morning offering together, or pray for another intention, talk about a saint having a feast that day, or simply talk about what’s going on in your lives.
These are just a few of our favorites. What do you listen to in the car? Email us your favorites at DenverCatholic@archden.org.
