Daniela Iniguez's review of Laudate
Date last edited: 11-22-2024 at 06:23PM
Rating: Everyone
Review:
Title: Laudate
Developer: Aycka Soft
Genre: Religious/Spiritual
My rating: 4/5 stars
Primary audience: Catholics
Version: 2.91
Platform: Available on iOS and Android
Cost: Free
The app Laudate is a Catholic app that is available for free on iOS and Android devices. The target audience of this app is both beginner and experienced Catholics. The app has a 3.8/5.0 rating on the App Store, and it is seen that users appreciate the app’s extensive features.
Laudate was developed by Aycka Soft and stands out from other Catholic apps due to its extensive collection of resources, including daily readings, prayers, and access to various Catholic texts, making it a valuable tool for personal devotion and study. The app’s free access also makes it a great resource for all Catholics alike.
First Media Key: Balance
In Eugene Gan’s Infinite Bandwith: Encountering Christ in the Media, he describes balance as the first media key because “it serves as the foundation for all the other keys because it’s the most fundamental mindset we need to cultivate in order to use media wisely” (Gan 21). He also emphasizes the importance of praying for the cardinal virtue of temperance to apply this media key. Temperance is important because “It ensures the will’s mastery over instincts and keeps desires within the limits of what is honorable” (Gan 31). Temperance is useful in balancing our use of media.
Laudate demonstrates the first media key of balance in its content. The app offers a wide range of Catholic resources, such as daily readings, prayers, examination of conscience, and access to Catholic texts. The app encourages balanced usage without relying on addictive features like notifications or algorithms that drive constant engagement. The user can choose when to engage with the app, aligning with the virtue of temperance and fostering spiritual discipline without distraction.
Second Media Key: Attitude Awareness
Gan describes attitude awareness as the second media key because attitude awareness “keeps us on our guard, helping us to maintain a critical perspective about the messages coming at us through the media” (Gan 37). The cardinal virtue of prudence is necessary for this media key because “Prudence is the virtue that disposes practical reason to discern our true good in every circumstance and to choose the right means of achieving it” (Gan 47).
Attitude awareness is encouraged through Laudate’s various features, which promote self reflection and consistent prayer. The app offers daily readings, prayers, and reflections, encouraging the user’s attitude awareness. The app also provides a mood tracker, which promotes the user’s emotional awareness by allowing users to consider how their spiritual practices impact their mental and emotional states. The daily reflections, often accompanied by a scriptural passage, help the user cultivate a reflective attitude, fostering a mindset of prudence when interacting with both the app and the world.
Third Media Key: The Dignity of The Human Person
Gan describes the dignity of the human person as the third media key because “All media should reflect, uphold, and enhance human dignity” (Gan 52). The cardinal virtue of justice is necessary for this media key because justice “disposes one to respect the rights of each and to establish in human relationships the harmony that promotes equity with regard to persons and to the common good” (Gan 62-63). Justice can be used in media to uphold the human dignity of each user.
Laudate supports users in recognizing and upholding the dignity of the human person through its free access to the app. Catholic teaching, as articulated in the Catechism, stresses that every human being has inherent dignity as created in the image of God (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1700). By removing the financial barrier, Laudate ensures that all Catholics, regardless of income, have access to the tools they need for spiritual growth. This is a good example of the third media key because it upholds the principle that spiritual growth and knowledge should be accessible to all.
Fourth Media Key: Truth-Filled
Gan describes truth-filled as the fourth media key because media should be used “for conveying truth—truth about God, truth about the human person, and truth about each one of us” (Gan 68). The cardinal virtue of fortitude is necessary for this media key because it helps resist lies told by the media. It is also important to research different sources to find the truth and be cautious of ideas portrayed in media.
Laudate is an excellent example of truth-filled media. It provides access to church documents, multiple versions of the Catechism, and the entire New American RE Bible. The inclusion of these texts helps user engage with the truth of the faith and encourages the virtues of truth, beauty, and goodness. The app also demonstrates the virtue of fortitude through its access to Catholic media. This Catholic media is truth-filled and goes against the lies told by secular media.
Fifth Media Key: Inspiring
Gan describes inspiring as the fifth media key because media should be used “to inspire people to pursue virtue and a relationship with Him” (Gan 85). The theological virtue of hope helps us apply this media key by “placing our trust in Christ’s promises and relying not on our own strength, but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit” (Gan 95).
Laudate promotes inspiration through its “Saint of the Day” feature, which highlights the life of a different saint each day. This daily practice invites users to reflect on the virtues of these saints and encourages them to imitate their example of holiness. By regularly encountering stories of the saints, users are inspired to strive for sainthood themselves, deepening their spiritual commitment and fostering the virtue of hope as they look to Christ’s promises for strength.
Sixth Media Key: Skillfully Developed
Gan describes skillfully developed as the sixth media key because it provides quality control for media. The Church encourages users “to learn how to recognize and create media that meets the culture’s expectations for what constitutes skillfully developed products” (Gan 102). The theological virtue of faith is especially important for media creators because with faith, “man freely commits his entire self to God” (Gan 110). This virtue is especially important for the creators of media.
The app is easy to use, well organized, and includes customizable prayer collections. The developers of this app are constantly updating the app to include improvements such as bug fixes, new prayers, and new features. The app also offers content in multiple languages, including Latin, which makes the app accessible to a broad range of users with different preferences. Ultimately, this reflects the developers' dedication to quality and user-centered design.
Seventh Media Key: Motivated by and Relevant to Experience
Gan describes the seventh media key as motivated by and relevant to experience because “Media should take its cue from Christ and be rooted in the realities of the world we live in” (Gan 116). Gan also emphasizes the virtue of charity because it allows us to sympathize and understand others around us.
Laudate was motivated by the desire to make Catholic resources easily accessible in user’s everyday lives. The app also has access to Catholic Media and radio, which makes the app relevant to current experiences in the world.
Laudate is a great tool for all Catholics looking to improve their prayer life and learn more about the Catholic faith. By complying with Gan’s seven media keys, the app not only supports spiritual development but also encourages user to engage with media in way that promotes truth, beauty, and goodness. I would recommend this app because its extensive content, confession preparation, and free access. Overall, Laudate stands out as an essential app for Catholics seeking a comprehensive spiritual resource that fits conveniently into their daily lives.
Seven Keys:
Balanced:
Attitude:
Personal:
Truth-filled:
Inspired:
Skillfully Made:
Experienced:
Overall Rating: 7/35
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