Electric Prayer

We will all be celebrating the Ascension in a few days’ time. The event is a joyful feast for us, who know what it led to, but it must have been grim for the disciples, who knew that they they would never again see Jesus on earth. Who was this mysterious promised Advocate?

God preserves our freedom by not telling us exactly what he has in store for us, and God can always be trusted. Nevertheless, it is hard for people who find themselves in a situation where, like the disciples after Ascension and before Pentecost, they can do nothing but pray and wait. Let us remember them in our own prayers.

Universalis apps: new features

Fonts

The Universalis app for iPhone and iPad now has access to all the fonts which Apple supply with the device: to see them, tap the rightmost button in the toolbar to open the Fonts screen, and scroll to the bottom of the list. (For this to work, you need to be using iOS 26).

The Universalis app for Android now has access to selected fonts from the Google Fonts service. They too can be found in the Fonts screen. (Only the app from the Google Play Store has this feature.)

Colours

The sample text in the Fonts screen now has a four-headed coloured arrow. You can drag it around to choose a background colour in ‘day’ mode (black text on a coloured background) or to choose a text colour on a black background in ‘night’ mode.

Explaining the Liturgy of the Hours

People have been asking for a description of how the Hours are structured, where the various parts come from, and how it all works. Perhaps this ought to be a book –  but for the present, I am systematically including explanations in the podcasts, starting with the beginning of May. They are highlighted in the list below.

The weekly podcasts

Here are the episodes which have come out since the last newsletter. You can listen by clicking on the link. Each episode is around 20 minutes long.

12 April 2026: The Resurrection does not undo the Crucifixion but goes through and beyond it: the lesson of the hands and the side. The same thing in our own lives. Dante: Lethe and Eunoë. What Thomas needed to know. Faith and reason are not opposites (with a mathematical example). The first steps of the baby Church. The Easter Alleluias in Universalis.

19 April 2026: The saints are back again! Mark; Justin (165); Ephraem, Marcellinus, Vincent, Domninus (4th century); Erkenwald and Egbert (7th century); Adalbert (10th century); Anselm (11th century); then back to George. ANZAC day and the secrets of the warriors.

26 April 2026: The first mention of Christians in the Acts of the Apostles. ‘The disciple Jesus loved’ and why his Gospel is different. How the Apocalypse nearly didn’t make it into the Bible, and why we should be glad it did. The importance of Saint Joseph the Worker.

3 May 2026: Fish shops, and the Letter to Diognetus. The origins of the Liturgy of the Hours. A detailed walk through Lauds (Morning Prayer).

10 May 2026: The time after the Resurrection comes to the end: the Ascension approaches. The artist’s dilemma: feet or sandals? Balthasar’s Theo-drama, and the Ascension as drama. The Liturgy of the Hours continued: Vespers. How to fit the Hours into your day.

Many thousands of people listen to the podcast, from all over the world. Sometimes by themselves in the car, sometimes sitting at home with the whole family. If you haven’t listened yet, do. If you have, and you like it, tell all your friends.

• Here is a link to the Podcasts page. You will find all the weekly episodes listed there.
• All the Universalis apps and programs can show an alert in the About Today page whenever a new podcast is ready.
• If you use podcast apps, the links at the bottom of the Podcasts page let you subscribe.
• If you want to tell your friends, say “Go to the home page at universalis.com and you’ll find a Podcasts button at the top right.”

New podcast episodes come out on Friday or Saturday each week.

Thank you all for using Universalis. If you have trouble or questions, or suggestions, do write to us at universalis@universalis.com or use the Contact Us button in one of the apps. Let us all keep one another in our prayers, as always.