Me: “Guys today we’ll be talking about the Sacrament of Penance.” Kids: [blank looks…sighs…mumbling]. Me: “Don’t worry, there’s an app for that!
Tomorrow I take my CCD class to receive the Sacrament of Confession in anticipation of their Confirmation this coming Tuesday. This sacrament, the most personal and intimate for us Catholics, involves a four-part ritual (examination of conscience, confessing of sins, assignment of penance, and absolution), and requires some preparation in the form of meditation. Since a “meditating teenager” is an oxymoron, you can imagine what it entails to help them prepare, with any bit of interest on their part, for this sacrament. Not an easy task, I assure you.
But, folks, here comes an app to the rescue. Believe it or not, we now have Confession: A Roman Catholic App to help us prepare and get through our confessions. Yes, you read correctly. As described in iTunes, “…this app is the perfect aid for every penitent. 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.” I won’t go into detail here about this newest tech button, just click link below and check it out for yourself, but there you have it. Who would’ve thunk it?
Anyhow, were my students interested? You bet. Free pass to turn back on their cell phones in class. What can I say? I’m not planning on using this app myself, and even though I strongly recommend to my students that they go through the steps of this sacrament the traditional way, I can’t deny that it served to spark that bit of interest I mentioned above.
I know God has a sense of humor. And now I see that faith has gone really hip.
Confession: A Roman Catholic App
Holy app, amiga! Somewhere in Heaven my former Catechism teacher, a lovely, elderly, chubby, rosy-cheeked Irish nun, Sister Mary Therese, who would sigh and look to the Heavens whenever I raised my hand in class, is going “Oh, my, my, my!” We’ve gone mainstream. I can see the ad now “Catholic? No? Interested in learning more about the Holy Catholic Church? We celebrate Christmas (our Midnight Mass is just beautiful) and Easter (sunrise service on Easter Sunday is truly an inspiring experience), birthdays (you get to eat cake and ice cream!) and pretty much all other holidays! We study the Bible and really try to follow its instructions. We help our brothers and sisters and are generally, a pretty nice bunch! So, interested? Well, there’s an app for that!”
Oh, my gosh! Loved, loved, loved the post. The CDL has done it again.
LOL! You must’ve given this nun a run for her money Amiga. ; )
She was lovely and had LOTS of patience.
Connie,
I love technology, but this app may be too much, even for me… 😎
My prayers are with your students and you on such an important day. That they may have a healthy spiritual relationship with our Lord.
I agree Panchi.
Confessions went well this morning, the kids did really good. We are looking forward to the Confirmation on Tuesday. Thanks for your prayers, they are appreciated.