James –
Thank you so much for pointing out such a simple means of a family playing & being together. As Fr Valk, mentioned his family played those early video games together. Too many families, use the games as another babysitter. One would be very surpirised to learn – that to say to a teenager – let’s do something else – want to learn how to bake or cook ?- the answer will ..uuhhh…oookay . “they are doing something for YOU” lol lol – share that food and a better family time will take place – but be true and do it often – who cares about the mess – clean up can be taught soon thereafter together -together cleanup – but such memories -forever ingrained! Try it earnestly – so much fun and truth about values.

We wrote iRosary to help people learn the rosary. However, we have learned mobile applications have a unique ability (since they can be found and used almost anywhere) to bring people closer to God. Here are a few examples from the hundreds of e-mails we have received:

A woman was in adoration discussing with God how she can bring the rosary into her life. She was frustrated because she felt a pull toward Mary, but had never been able to pray the rosary. Right then, she pulled out her iPhone searched for rosary programs and downloaded iRosary. It guided her through praying the Luminous mysteries as she sat in the presence of Jesus, thanking Him for the guidance.

Another woman was in the hospital with her grandmother who wanted to pray the rosary. Her grandmother only spoke Spanish and there were no rosaries to be found, much less a Spanish prayer book. Remembering her iPhone, this woman downloaded iRosary, switched it to Spanish prayers, and was able to pray the rosary with her grandmother before she passed.

We receive a lot of e-mail from people who never have their rosary beads around when they have time to pray (e.g. waiting in lines) or they have their rosary but cannot remember the prayers. Since they always have their phone with them, iRosary is helping them not only learn the rosary, but to pray it regularly.

I used iRosary for my examples since I am familiar with it, but there are other great mobile programs for Catholics, such as iMissal, IBreviary, and iPieta. These mobile Catholic programs are helping people pray, find the nearest church, follow the Mass, and learn how to be better Catholics. And there are many more opportunities to use this technology for God’s service! I look forward to the creative ways Catholics find to use it for His will.

God Bless You!
Dave

iBreviary is an extremely well designed prayer app that helps people pray the canonical hours using their iPhone, iPod Touch and even Google’s Android smartphones.

Spiritual empathy goes a long way and is very healing.

May the angels and the little holy infant touch each lonely soul with genuine peace, understanding and friendly love.