This past Sunday, as over 100 million people tuned into Super Bowl LVIII, they may have been surprised to find themselves praying alongside actors Mark Wahlberg and Jonathan Roumie. Wahlberg and Roumie (who portrays Jesus in the TV series,The Chosen) were featured in a commercial for the Catholic prayer app known as Hallow. Hallow is a digital tool people can use on their phones, tablets, and computers to help them pray, meditate and learn about the spiritual life. The website for the site says the program “offers a way for the laity to practice their faith and to pray always.”
Visit Hallow.com to learn more and sign up for their Lenten Reflection Series.
During an online “teaser” for the Super Bowl ad, a message flashed on the computer screen that said, “For the first time ever, join over 100 million people in prayer during the big game.” When I first saw this, I immediately thought of St. Francis de Sales. Not only did the Bishop of Geneva want the “laity to practice their faith and to pray always,” but he wanted to make sure he reached the people of his day. St. Francis used both the spoken word (through his preaching) and the written word (using pamphlets and tracts) to spread the faith. It is believed that during his time as a missionary to the Chablais area of France, he brought over 70,000 people back to the Catholic Church.
“For the first time ever, join over 100 million people in prayer during the big game.” When I first saw this, I immediately thought of St. Francis de Sales.
When I finally saw the commercial on Sunday night, I was even more convinced of the connection between De Sales and the Hallow app. As the short film begins, Wahlberg can be heard saying “God, we take this moment just to give you thanks. We thank You for this time to come together…. Help us, Lord, especially this Lent, to grow closer to You. Amen.”
Mark Wahlberg partners with Hallow to promote Christianity. “Let’s stay prayed up!” is his popular slogan.
As soon as I heard the first line, I thought of the “Direction of Intention.” This is a prayer inspired by the teachings of St. Francis de Sales that is prayed every day by Oblates and many members of the Salesian family (parishioners, students, alumni, colleagues, and friends). This brief prayer is a way to direct our thoughts and actions to God. It is a way to seek God’s assistance and grace in a particular moment or activity. It is a way for all of us to “practice (our) faith and to pray always.” The Direction of Intention is a simple way to recall that God is part of every aspect of our lives. The version that I pray every day goes back to my days as a student at North Catholic in Philadelphia. Other Oblate schools and apostolates may use slightly different words, but the sentiment is the same: “My God, I give you this action. Please give me the grace to conduct myself during it in a manner most pleasing to You.”
I realized we don’t need an app or a smartphone to teach us how to pray, but technology does help us to recognize that we are part of a community of faith, a great cloud of witnesses who watches over us and helps us along our journey. If a celebrity or a computer can remind us about God, community, and prayer, then let’s keep connected. Let’s try to “pray without ceasing (I Thessalonians 5:16)” this Lent. In the spirit of St. Francis de Sales and the words of Mark Wahlberg, “Let’s stay prayed up!”
Fr. Jack Kolodziej, OSFS
Provincial
Wilmington-Philadelphia Province
