By Robin Whitlock
“Hail Mary, Mother of Grace, pray for us… oof”
Confused? That may very well be the sound of a Catholic with an Iphone on the odd occasion in the future as he walks into a lamp-post. Seriously though if we thought for a moment that we might not have enough to worry about in the world and could do with some more stress, the Vatican have now come up with the perfect solution for Catholic Iphone users. You can now prepare for your appearance before your local priest by practicing on your Iphone using the latest Iphone App: “Confession: A Roman Catholic App”.
It almost sounds like a soundbite for a new movie doesn’t it? Yet, according to Indiana-based company Little i Apps, this is the perfect way to prepare for your rite of penance.
“With a personalized examination of conscience for each user, password protected profiles and a step by step guide to the sacrament, this app invites Catholics to prayerfully prepare for and participate in the Rite of Penance” the blurb reads. “Individuals who have been away from the sacrament for some time will find Confession: A Roman Catholic App to be a useful and inviting tool”.
The app was developed by the company with the assistance of Reverend Thomas Weinandy of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and Reverand Dan Scheidt, Pastor of the Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Mishawaka, Indiana, according to Reuters. The app was officially endorsed by Bishop Kevin Rhoades of the Diocese of Fort Wayne in Indiana. The company stresses that this app is not a substitute for attendance but merely a means of preparation, worshippers must still go and see their local priest in person.
The ultimate motivation for the app seems to have been to lure followers back to the faith using modern technology. “Our desire is to invite Catholics to engage in their faith through digital technology,” said Patrick Leinen of Little i Apps, a small company with just three full-time staff in South Bend, Indiana. “Taking to heart Pope Benedict XVI’s message from the last World Communications Address, our goal with this project is to offer a digital application that is truly ‘new media at the service of the word.”
Leinen is referring to the Holy Father’s message that a Christian presence in the digital world is increasingly important, delivered to the faithful at the 45th World Day of Social Communications in January this year. “The new technologies are not only changing the way we communicate, but communication itself” Pope Benedict XVI told his audience. “So much so that it could be said that we are living through a period of vast cultural transformation. This means of spreading information and knowledge is giving birth to a new way of learning and thinking, with unprecedented opportunities for establishing relationships and building fellowship.”
As one who follows a more nature-centred religion, I find myself wondering if Little i Apps would consider developing a similar series of apps for Druids, I can never remember how to call the quarters properly at rituals.
You think I jest? Well, maybe….
The app is available for both the Iphone and Ipad for .99.
Jim Dalrymple, ‘Catholic Church sanctions Iphone, Ipad app’ 8th February 2011, The Loop, http://www.loopinsight.com/2011/02/08/catholic-church-sanctions-iphone-ipad-app/
‘Catholic Church gives nod to confession application’, 8th February 2011, International Business Times.
I am a freelance writer, researcher and administrator with an interest in many contemporary issues across a wide variety of genre’s and business sectors. I have a particular interest in energy and the environment which is the main theme of my blog. I have been published in a wide variety of magazines since I started writing in 1997 and I also write regularly for the social media forum of a technical recruitment consultancy based in Milton Keynes. More recently I have started writing articles for the website of a business software company and also work as an online data input administrator for a London-based research company involved in gathering investment information for the food and renewable technology industries. I am a graduate of Bath Spa University with a BA (Hons) in Psychology and English (2/1).
Article from articlesbase.com
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