Often, prayer intentions
are offered with hands folded, but a new service allows hands and
fingers to move freely -- provided a cellphone is handy.
The New
York-based Holy Name Province of the Franciscans has started a service
it calls "Text a Prayer Intention to a Franciscan Friar."
The service
debuted in January with the new year.
Here's how it works: Text the word
"prayer" to 306-44 and hit "send."
Senders will then receive a welcome
message inviting them to then send in their prayer intentions.
Senders
will receive a text in reply stating that their prayer has been received
and will be prayed for.
The intentions are received on a website, and
will be included collectively in the friars' prayers twice a day and at
Mass.
"With technology changing the way we communicate, we needed to
offer people an updated way to ask for prayers for special intentions
and needs either for themselves or others," said a Jan. 8 statement by
Franciscan Father David Convertino, executive director of development
for the Franciscan Friars of Holy Name Province.