The Catholic church keeps up with the times, apparently. In an effort to reach more tech-obsessed Millennials and Gen-Zers ostensibly to pray for world peace, the Vatican has launched a new 'click-to-pray' Rosary bracelet that makes divine guidance available instantly with a touch of the screen. The new eRosary hopes to fill a big void in eReligion.
"Aimed at the peripheral frontiers of the digital world where the young people dwell, the Click To Pray eRosary serves as a technology-based teaching tool to help young people pray the Rosary for peace and to contemplate the Gospel," the Vatican explained.
E-Rosary features 10 consecutive black agate and hematite rosary beads, as well as a data-storing "smart cross," symbolizing the ever-enduring human faith, according to the “Click to Pray eRosary” website.
It can be worn as a bracelet and the owner can link to a mobile app, activating the device by making the sign of the cross. It synchronizes with a free app of the same name that provides access to an audio guide, exclusive images and personalized content about praying the rosary.
After activating it, the owner can choose to pray the standard rosary, a contemplative rosary or a thematic rosary, which will be updated throughout the year.
And that's not all …
Just like other devices that count burned calories or the number of steps taken per day, this prayer device keeps track of each rosary completed, showing progress throughout each prayer.
The aim of the eRosary, according to Monsignor Lucio Ruiz, secretary of the Vatican’s communications department, is to bring people together, even in virtual spaces, “with a missionary zeal, living the Gospel and preaching the Message to the outermost borders of the Earth”.
The eRosary connects via Bluetooth, and is compatible with iOS and Android, according to Jerry Kao, president of Gadget Tek Inc. (GTI), the technology company behind the device.
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"Click to Prayer eRosary" is a project under the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, a network focused on "mobilizing Catholics through prayer and action”, which Pope Francis launched in January.
The app is a gentle reminder for users to pray three times a day: morning, afternoon and evening. It also has a prayer wall for users to write their prayer wishes and see how many others said their prayers.
The device launched this month, the official month of the rosary, and sells for $110 on Click to Pray eRosary website. It’s also available on Amazon Italy for now, and soon will be available in every Amazon store.
Although the Roman Catholic Church has always been associated with traditional things, it has been working hard to build up a social media presence strong enough to make a significant influence through many platforms.
Pope Francis became a social media star a few years ago, widening his presence in social media and again sending a message that the internet and social media are prime places both to build relationships and community and to pray together.
His Instagram profile has 6.3 million followers and his Twitter account boasts 18.1 million.
By Michael Kern for Safehaven.com
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