Tuesday Tech Talk:Divine Mercy App

This Sunday, the Second Sunday of Easter, is Divine Mercy Sunday. Blessed John Paul II instituted this Divine Mercy as a feast of the Universal Church beginning in 2001. We mark the day by celebrating Mass, venerating the image of Divine Mercy, listening to the teaching on mercy and by praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Go to the The Divine Mercy website to learn about the wonderful graces associated with this day of celebration.

The Marians of the Immaculate Conception, the official stewards of the National Shrine of Divine Mercy, have developed a smartphone app that covers all things related to Divine Mercy. It is available for free and is currently available in both Android and iPhone platforms. The app is divided into three categories: The Message, The Devotion and Mercy Plus.

The first page of the app is called The Message. It includes an introduction to the message of Divine Mercy. It also contains information about St. Faustina and the message she received from our Lord, including the Diary she wrote, Divine Mercy in My Soul, as result of the apparitions. Additionally, this section includes mercy quotations from Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI. It also contains a tab to obtain additional catechetical resources.

The second page is entitled The Devotion. It includes a virtual chaplet to pray. It's similar to some of the virtual Rosaries you have seen that you touch or scroll the image of the bead to move to the next one. This app has an interesting feature that allows you to turn on an audio guide to the chaplet in the settings. This allows you to pray along with the guide. This section also includes three choices for the image of Divine Mercy and an explanation of the 3 O'Clock Hour, the mercy hour. It also includes a guide to celebrating the Feast of Mercy. Finally, in also includes a virtual Way of the Cross and a collection of prayers, including the Novena.

The final section is Mercy Plus. This page includes background information on the Marians and the Marian Helpers. It also has a tab for the National Shrine of Divine Mercy and includes information on pilgrimages, tours and a calendar of events. It also has tabbed links to apostolates devoted to works of divine mercy. Additionally, it includes links to articles on the subject of divine mercy, including those that address FAQ. Finally, a direct link to The Divine Mercy online store to purchase chaplets, books, CD's, etc.

My only suggestion to the developers of the app is that it would be a nice addition to include a way for it to remind you to pray the Chaplet at the Mercy Hour.

Happy Easter! This is a spiritually rich season that keeps giving graces. We still have Divine Mercy Sunday, ongoing Mystagogy and the pouring out of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.